Kate writes a bi-weekly column for the Uttoxeter Echo. This column was originally featured in the 15th Febuary print edition.
Many of us will remember what our first job was and how we felt receiving our first pay-packet.
Today, school leavers are fortunate to have a much better range of options open to them post-16 education. The Government has also done extensive work to ensure that university isn’t seen as the only option to having better jobs prospects with T-Levels and Apprenticeships quickly becoming popular options.
Last week was National Apprenticeship Week (Monday 6th February to Sunday 12th February) the aim being to highlight and promote the value of apprenticeships across England. Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to gain a new skill for a career, with options from a host of sectors across our economy.
Apprenticeships provide skills for life, career progression, and a genuine alternative to university for school leavers. But they aren’t just for young people. People of all ages are taking up apprenticeships, including those looking to re-skill or join the workplace after a career break.
It was great to hear, as part of Apprenticeships Week, that 12,500 new apprenticeships have been created in Burton and Uttoxeter since 2010. I regularly meet apprentices on my visits to local businesses and I am always encouraged to hear of the life-changing impact it has had on people as well as the development of new skills.
Each new apprenticeship means another student building the skills and knowledge they need for a long and successful career. If an apprenticeship is something you, or someone you know, might be interested in, why not find out what options are available and whether an apprenticeship is right for you? Visit www.apprenticeships.gov.uk to find out more.
