Apprentices across the country have been auditioning to be the stars of a new campaign that calls on young people to kick-start their career by choosing an apprenticeship.
From hundreds of talented apprentices across England, 13 were selected to be the stars of the campaign that will show young people how an apprenticeship can give them the skills and experience they need to land their dream job.
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The talented young people landed work in top firms including IBM, JCB and Sellafield and will see their faces on billboards and television screens across England.
Campaign star, Xavier Williams, of Lloyds Banking Group, said: “It’s never too late to get an apprenticeship. If you are considering how to better your future then an apprenticeship would be a no-brainer. All it takes is self-confidence. I can’t recommend this route into employment highly enough.
“Apprenticeships are proving their worth as a high quality option for young people who want to Get in and Go far. New figures show that around 90 per cent of employers and apprentices are satisfied with their programme and that around 75 per cent of employers find that apprentices improve productivity or the quality of their products and services.
“But it doesn’t stop there – the survey also showed that employment outcomes for apprentices remain strong with 92 per cent of apprentices employed around 6 months after completion and the vast majority of apprentice employers committed to providing apprenticeships in the future.”
To celebrate the campaign, apprentices everywhere are being encouraged to share selfies and video clips of themselves at work on social media.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “In the past, talented and ambitious school leavers were too often told that university was their only option. We have transformed apprenticeships to make sure we have the right mix of skills for our future workforce.
“Apprenticeships are being designed by top employers who are best placed to know the skills and experience young people need to get a job and get on. We’re committed to 3 million more apprenticeships by 2020 because we’re committed to helping our young people succeed.
“The new campaign shows young people, their parents and employers that work-based routes into employment are no longer ‘second best’ to a university education and highlights the top quality opportunities available in some of the thousands of businesses.
“It builds on the success of the apprenticeship campaign that ran throughout 2014 and led to a 140 per cent increase in telephone enquiries to the apprenticeships helpline and a big increase in web traffic to the government’s apprenticeship website.
Get In Go Far will feature advertising on TV, outdoor posters, digital and social channels. The advertising will direct young people online to www.getingofar.gov.uk where they will be able to find out more about the benefits and opportunities presented by apprenticeships. If they are not ready for an apprenticeship, the website will direct them to more appropriate pathways through either a traineeship or work experience.
Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “This campaign will show young people and their parents the incredible things you can achieve if you choose to learn while you earn. Our apprentice stars and the millions more who have already benefitted from an apprenticeship, are examples of how an apprenticeship can take you anywhere and help you rise to the top in any industry, any job and up to any level.
The government is delivering on its commitment to create 3 million more apprenticeships by 2020. This year’s National Apprenticeship Week saw employers across the country pledging to create 30,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships.
