This week has seen the annual National Apprenticeship Week take its grip across our region with a campaign inspiring businesses and candidates to engage in apprenticeships and ‘build the future’.
Apprenticeships allow young people to gain hands-on experience whilst earning a salary as they take the step from education into work. Employers benefit by recruiting and training new talent with the necessary skills to succeed in their business environment, which is particularly beneficial in sectors experiencing skills shortages.
Already recognised for supporting businesses as they search and manage their apprenticeship programmes, Form the Future also supports young people with practical guidance and introduces them to the varied careers that the region has to offer.
One individual who has benefitted from the input of Form the Future is Darcy Keates. Darcy told us: “I was looking for an apprenticeship but struggling to find something suitable. I honestly had no idea of the many exciting companies in Cambridge, and the investment they make in people starting out in their careers.”
“Form the Future helped me to find the right career path and guided me through the application process and I am so pleased to now work at Heraeus Noblelight.”
Debbie Playle, Managing Director at Heraeus Noblelight started her career as part of a Government training scheme and is a strong advocate of apprenticeships. She said: “We are a global technology company and keen to support the next generation of workers. We offer a wide variety of roles in the company – from customer services to design engineers and are proud to support apprentices throughout their chosen education path.”
The week closes with a complementary day – International Day of Women and Girls in Science – an opportunity to showcase the vital work that women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) do, and to inspire the next generation of young women to follow in their path.
Continuing to also lead this charge, Form the Future manages a STEM outreach programme, Cambridge LaunchPad which provides hands-on activities that introduce young people to diverse role models in STEM.
If you are a young person, parent, school or business who would like to find out more about apprenticeships, or Cambridge LaunchPad, please contact info@formthefuture.org.uk.
