Form the Future CIC recently held an information event for Cambridgeshire organisations eager to learn more about apprenticeships, and how they could benefit their business.
The informal event was ideal for companies, such as the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and AVEVA Solutions who wanted to learn more about apprenticeships and how they could help them develop a workforce with the necessary skills to succeed. Experts in higher education shared the latest developments – including updates on new degree apprenticeships – and talked through the steps to bring an apprentice into a business.
Attendees also had the opportunity to learn from leading STEM employers, MedImmune and Domino Printing Sciences about how they used apprenticeships to plug their skills gaps, and met local training and education providers who are able to provide support and advice.
Paul Hockey, Group Learning & Development Manager at Domino, was very good at describing their apprenticeship programme. One point he made very well was that “apprentices are more deeply rooted in the local community and therefore tend to stick longer and end up knowing the business better (than grads)”
Tracey Hoey, training specialist from Medimmune, was also passionate about the importance of bringing apprentices into the business. Her advice was ‘don’t go for one, go for two’ highlighting that it can be difficult for a young person to enter a large company on their own. She also cited the energy and enthusiasm that they inject into the business.
The seminar was kindly hosted by Anglia Ruskin University, and formed part of the skills service delivered by Form the Future on behalf of the Greater Cambridge Partnership.
If you would like to find out more about apprenticeships and how to recruit suitable candidates for your business, please get in touch at info@formthefuture.org.uk.
