Event stresses worth of apprenticeships
RIVERSIDE College in Widnes hosted a week of events to raise awareness about apprenticeships and students’ success stories.
Those attending could find out about career and training opportunities and vacancies, as part of National Apprenticeship Week.
The college offers apprenticeship courses in engineering, manufacturing, science, management, IT, business, construction trades, retail and hospitality.
A Riverside spokeswoman said more than 700 students are enrolled on courses with employers.
To highlight this year’s ‘ladder of opportunity’ theme, the college created videos featuring student success stories, which were posted on social media during the week.
The events coincided with an announcement over the launch of apprenticeship vacancies with Getrag Transmissions in Halewood and the appointment of two Riverside College motorsport students as apprentices with performance car company BAC Mono.
During the week, Riverside also hosted an employer’s breakfast at the college’s Scholars Restaurant.
The event was attended by business leaders and featured a presentation about the Apprenticeship Levy from Jayne Smith, the college’s head of skills and enterprise and Richard Munson, of Widnes Vikings.
Apprenticeships also fea- ● tured at the college’s open evening and a school leavers’ apprenticeship marketplace where students spoke with firms about what they look for in a candidate to help them with their applications in coming months.
Jayne Smith said: “Apprenticeships are a great way to start a career in many different industries. This year alone we have helped over 250 people into apprenticeships.
“National Apprenticeships Week 2017 has been a big success and we hope the events have encouraged others to consider an apprenticeship.
“We are also pleased to announce that Riverside College have successfully been approved to join the Government’s new exclusive register of approved training providers.”