Apprenticeship Training
Could an Apprentice bring new talent to your business?
Working in the creative sector requires a wide range of skills, often combining creativity with technical proficiency and commercial awareness. The Apprenticeship Programme is a national initiative designed to help businesses take on and develop new talent and has been specifically designed by industry for industry.
Benefits for your business:
• Apprentices are highly motivated, eager to learn and loyal
• Train an apprentice in the skills needed by your business
• Cost effective way to recruit and train a skilled workforce
• Much of the training is delivered 'on the job‘
• The qualification delivery supports distance learning
• Funding available to support the cost of training
The National Apprenticeships programme is designed to offer individuals an opportunity to gain a qualification whilst working within a business environment. The mixture of on and off the job learning ensures apprentices develop the skills that work best for your business. Taking on an apprentice can make your organisation more effective, productive and competitive by addressing your skills gaps. Apprentices are also found to be highly motivated, eager to learn, flexible and loyal. By “growing your own” you ensure that your apprentice has the practical skills and qualifications your business needs now and in the future.
77% of employers believe apprenticeships make them more competitive
76% say that apprenticeships provide higher overall productivity
80% feel that apprenticeships reduce staff turnover
88% believe apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce
* survey conducted by Populus on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council, February 2008
At Plymouth College of Art we offer a wide range of apprenticeship provision for businesses operating within the Creative and Cultural sectors. Training and assessment can be made flexible to fit the needs of your businesses and much of it can be conducted through work based learning/assessment. We hold contracts for national initiatives enabling some of our apprenticeships to be fully funded or subsidised. We are also able to offer a wide range of support from advertising a vacancy to training your apprentice.
Please click on links below to see Apprenticeship Frameworks we offer
- Ceramics
- Cultural Heritage
- Community Arts
- Creative & Digital Media
- Design
- Digital Print Production
- Fashion & Textiles
- Machine Print
- Photo Imaging
For further information on Apprenticeships please contact us Creative Business Services on 01752 205714 or check out the National Apprenticeship Service Website at www.apprenticeships.org
To be able to complete an apprenticeship you must be employed by a company for a minimum of 16 hours per week. The business for which you work must allow you the time, opportunity and resource necessary to work towards the qualification.
The first step in finding your own work placement is to identify the companies that you wish to contact. Many jobs are never advertised and so making a ‘speculative’ approach to a company can be a useful way of getting a foot in the door. Use the internet to research companies that may be able to offer the experience that you require. Remember to consider the cost of travel as you will have to pay this out of your apprenticeship wage.
To make an approach to a company it is the norm to send a CV and covering letter. The layout and content of the CV will differ but should include your name, contact details, education history and work experience. Within your covering letter you get the chance to explain to the company why they should employ you. To do this you should explain your motivation for the job, what relevant skills you have and why you are the suitable candidate. Remember to include your experience from work, education or your own time. If you are applying for a creative job then this is also a chance to include some of your own artwork such as graphic design work or photographs of your artwork.