CLaSS

Waltham Forest Community Learning & Skills Service

Apprenticeships - Information for Employers

Taking on an apprentice

Apprentices undertake a combination of on and off the job learning, the latter funded by Central Government and leading to a nationally recognised qualification. Traditionally, we provide four key frameworks (apprenticeships), which lead to NVQ's in Business Administration, Health & Social Care, Customer Care and Childcare (level 2) but have been looking to extend these in order to provide greater choice for apprentices. Last year therefore, we were able to offer placements and qualifications in IT and Finance. We are currently in discussions with other boroughs to consider joint work on introducing a framework in surveying.

There is clear evidence to show that apprenticeships provide employers with a resource that can attract motivated individuals, keen to learn alongside existing employees in a customised training programme, reflective of the specific needs of the organisation.

Benefits

Apprentice and employer in a meeting

Apprenticeships can help businesses engage new talent particularly at a time of skill shortages and recruitment difficulties. Studies have shown several benefits as a result of implementing an apprenticeship scheme into the organisation, such as:

  • Increasing productivity - 81 per cent of employers said apprentices generated higher overall productivity (LSC survey, Jan 2009)
  • Improving competitiveness - 66 per cent of employers surveyed believed such schemes made them more competitive
  • Providing a committed and competent workforce - 92 per cent of employers surveyed said an apprenticeship programme led to better motivated staff and increased job satisfaction
  • Taking on an apprentice is cost effective because they are able to learn on the job while also undertaking off the job training that is government funded. Studies have clearly shown that the investment in apprentices is repaid many times over
  • We have had some very successful placements within the program, which is reflected in the numbers of apprentices employed on a full-time basis
  • For the apprentice, it allows access to employment and training with key local employers and with the possibility of a permanent position

Feedback from Apprentices

We have had very positive feedback from our apprentices, with some of them being recruited into permanent positions within the Council. These are a few of the comments that have been made by recent apprentices:

  • "I think I have gained more confidence in myself, talking in front of a crowd and talking to elders I think this course has made me more responsible."
  • "I feel it has enhanced my knowledge in the field of Business and Administration, I have become more confident in myself and am able to talk confidently to a large group of people without hesitating. I have gained experience and knowledge in the world of work."
  • "I think the course has given me a lot more experience and opportunities which I would not have been able to experience if I hadn't come on this course. It has made me a lot more confident and able to sort things out for myself."
  • "Overall the Business and Administration NVQ Level 2 Apprenticeship has enabled me to learn a wide range of new skills and improve on the skills I already have. I have also gained experience which will be with me for life. My job prospects are also brighter."
  • "I feel I have gained sufficient knowledge and experience during the apprenticeship, both at work and college."
  • "I think the course has given me more experience and opportunities into seeing what a full time job is like and the sort of thing I am going to be doing when I am in a permanent job."
  • "I have gained a lot of knowledge from my training which comes in handy at work in a sticky situation. I have become a lot more confident interacting with new people and trying new tasks."

What Next?

If you are interested in recruiting an apprentice and would like to know how to take this forward, fill in the form below or contact:

Sam Whenman
Tel: 020 8558 6805
email: sam.whenman@walthamforest.gov.uk

Harpal Rull
Tel: 020 8520 9430
email: harpal.rull@walthamforest.gov.uk

Soledad Thomas
Tel: 020 8520 9430
email: soledad.thomas@walthamforest.gov.uk

Information marked with a red asterisk (*) is required.

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  • "I want more cooking skills and I want to learn how to follow a recipe."

    "I'm useless in the kitchen. That's why I'm here. I attempt to cook for my family - but I'm no good at it."
  • "It's the highlight of the week. I really look forward to my Spanish class - and it feels great being able to speak Spanish in Spain."
  • "The standard of most work is excellent, with some better described as exceptional."

    City and Guilds examiner reporting on CLaSS's fashion and textiles work.
  • "I'm getting on for 84 now. I couldn't believe my luck last year when I realised I could attend basic computer classes. I started with the complete basics and I now have qualifications in word processing and databases - and have started my own blog."
  • "My friends in other parts of London are astonished by what you can do here in Waltham Forest. The British Wheel of Yoga Foundation course was inspirational - and I am now well on the way to becoming a fully qualified yoga teacher. Carry on the good work, CLaSS!"
  • "My brother was born deaf. None of us - my parents or my other brothers - ever learnt sign language. I can't believe that now. It seems so wrong. Now thanks to CLaSS I've really learnt to communicate properly with my brother"
  • "I work at an estate agents as a receptionist. I mentioned I was taking a photography course with CLaSS and now I do all the property shoots. I'm even getting paid a bit more!"
  • "I speak four languages and have been an interpreter for five years - but I've never had any formal training before now. This course is amazing - if we discuss something on our course one week,it always comes up at work the next - like not going inside the house before the social worker arrives."
  • "Parenting courses are great! You realise that everyone has the same worries as you - and that there are practical strategies you can learn that really do work. I thank the Lord for the Calm Parent - Calm Children course I attended."
  • "I cook - but I don't follow recipes and amounts. My daughter is doing cookery GCSE at school and I'd like to help her with that."