College sees growing cohort of apprentices
A SUBSTANTIAL increase in the number of students taking up apprenticeships has been recorded by a college specialising in agriculture and rural courses.
New figures, which are published today, show that Askham Bryan College on the edge of York has seen the number of students taking apprenticeships rise by 3.7 per cent over the last academic year to 900, from a total of 868 in 2016/17.
The college works with about 800 employers to equip young people with technical skills and qualifications. To mark National Apprenticeship Week, the college will hold an apprenticeship awards evening tonight to celebrate star students, employers and tutors.
Catherine Dixon, the college’s chief executive, said apprenticeships are an effective way of up-skilling young people so they can earn while they learn, adding: “It not only benefits the individual’s future career prospects and assists employers by increasing their apprentice’s skills, but also helps to boost the local economy.”
The college has about 5,000 students. Apprenticeships complement its diploma and degree courses.
Archie Lamb, 16, of Thirsk, is one of three college apprentices working in the North York Moors National Park as part of a diploma in environmental conservation. Tasks include fence and footpath maintenance, bridge and gate building and clearing rights of way.
He said: “Most of the time I’m working outside, then I go to college for three days a month for my portfolio work and to learn the business and technical side of things.”
Another apprentice, Lea Poole, 19, from near Wakefield, specialises in construction plant maintenance and is working with Ossett-based Lifterz, which hires and sells cherry pickers, platforms and scissor lifts.
“I love taking things apart and putting them back together and what I do day to day in the workplace fits brilliantly with the assignments at college,” Ms Poole said.