http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Apprentice-event-taking-place/story-16143571-detail/story.html

Apprentice event taking place in May

AN event to show businesses the value of apprenticeships will take place later this month.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Futures, an organisation which helps to get young people into work, has organised an employer engagement session amid fears that the take-up of apprenticeships is not high enough in Notts.

It is hoped that 100 firms will attend the May 30 meeting to find out what apprenticeships can do for them.

Alex Reeder, 16-19 manager at the organisation, said: “There are worries about low take-up of apprenticeships.

“But we feel the answer to that is to have more companies willing to take them on.

“Apprenticeships are a great way for people to train their staff and we are very keen to see more companies step forward.”

The event at Nottingham Conference Centre comes as the Post seeks to create 200 apprenticeships in 100 days as part of our Get Notts Working campaign.

Last week we hit the 150 mark.

In Nottingham in the last financial year, 2,640 apprenticeships were started, a 90 per cent rise on 2008-09.

In Notts, there was a 67 per cent rise, from 4,500 to 7,530.

However, in Leicester and Leicestershire there were rises of 129 per cent – from 1,110 to 2,540 – and 120 per cent – from 2,600 to 5,710 – respectively, which caused concern for Mr Reeder and at other organisations like the National Apprenticeship Service.

The event on May 30 is open to firms from all industries.

There will be workshops and presentations to demonstrate how apprenticeships can boost businesses as well as a chance for bosses to meet apprentices.

So far, around 20 firms have signed up, but there is space for 100.

Mr Reeder added: “We feel this can be a very useful event for companies to find out more. Apprenticeships are a great thing for businesses and we hope to demonstrate that.”

Get Notts Working aims to support local people in their efforts to find a job.

It is a partnership between the Post, Notts and Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce, the National Apprenticeship Service, Nottinghamshire City and County Employment and Skills Board, local councils as well as major local companies.

Later this year, we will be promoting work experience, asking firms to take on unemployed people for a short period.

Companies wanting to attend the event on May 30 should contact the city council’s events team to register their interest. E-mail events

Paul Champion
www.paulchampionuk.com
www.apprenticeshipblog.com

📱: 07540 704920

Twitter: @blogapprentice
Skype: paulchampion31