National Apprenticeship Week 2019

National Apprenticeship Week runs from Monday, 4th to Friday 8th March 2019. This annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships will bring the whole apprenticeship community together to celebrate the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.

Our apprenticeship schemes

To support the government's target of three million new apprenticeships by 2020, we’ve aimed to have at least 2.3% of our employees participating in an apprenticeship scheme.

“Our target for 2018/19 was to have eight and I’m pleased to say that we already have 10!” said Sharon Godfrey, Talent Development Manager.

"We wanted to make sure that we utilised the apprenticeship opportunities in the right areas of the business, and so we spent time working and communicating with senior managers to get them to see the benefits and how apprenticeships could be effective in various areas of the organisation.”

We launched our first apprenticeship in September 2018. The apprenticeships we offer can be done at various levels from entry level up to a Master’s degree. The majority of our apprenticeship schemes result in a professional qualification.

There are many benefits to taking on an apprenticeship, such as earning a salary alongside learning and gaining a professional qualification. As part of our programme, candidates can dedicate 20 per cent of their time to learning, whether that be by attending college, taking part in an online webinar, or working on a specific project.

Opening doors to the future

Apprenticeships are open to all, there is no age limit. For our entry level apprenticeships, we look for the right attitude and behaviours rather than work experience.

“I came across the Commercial Apprentice role and decided to do a bit of research on procurement and supply and the CIPs Level 4 qualification,” said Rishma Poojara, Commercial Apprentice.

“The more I looked into the apprenticeship programme, I knew that this wasn’t just a job but a fantastic career opportunity to learn and train while earning. I was able to transfer my skills and knowledge I had gained over the last two years as a volunteer.

“Doing an apprenticeships has given me the opportunity to learn valuable skills, jump-start my career and has opened many doors to my future.”

Visit our Careers section to find out more about working here, or follow us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with our career opportunities.