As National Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, organisations with outstanding apprenticeship programmes are encouraged to enter this year’s TJ Awards. NAW was established by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy
Levels of interest in apprenticeships has hit a peak this week – with PR agencies and marketing departments making good use of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) to raise awareness of apprenticeship schemes and the lives they are changing. From large organisations like Santander who have announced they will be offering 450 apprenticeships this year, to smaller companies like regeneration specialists Lovell who are taking on 40 new apprentices this year, to add to the 52 already on their scheme.
NAW was established by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. Clearly with Government backing apprenticeships are on the increase and TJ are keen to hear about some of the best programmes being designed and delivered today. TJ’s editor Debbie Carter said: “National Apprenticeship Week has reminded us of some of the most innovative and exciting programmes being developed for our young people right now. And, as a magazine devoted to skills and workplace learning, we want to encourage organisations to benchmark their initiatives against those designed by other organisations and sectors. I want to encourage L&D departments to consider entering their apprenticeships into the TJ Awards this year.”
The apprenticeship category of the awards is well established had has seen winners from a variety of sectors including: Mott McDonald (2011), Cheshire East Council (2012), Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2013) and the Spirit Pub Company (2014). Mark Peters, head of L&D at Spirit, recently said: “Winning the award is the real icing on the cake and validates the hard work my team have put in over the last few years in making this programme so successful. The judging process was invaluable and the whole experience has strengthened our resolve to develop further career enhancing development programmes.”
To find out more about the TJ Awards 2015 here, email awards@trainingjournal.com or telephone 01353 865340.