National Apprenticeship Week

Every year over 6,000 adults and young people across Lincolnshire choose to start an apprenticeship and learn while they earn. Some of them will complete the apprenticeship in a year, while others taking more advanced levels will be learning for a couple of years or longer. 

Across England last year over 740,000 people were taking part in an apprenticeship at some point, and it’s worth remembering that every one of these apprentices has a contract of employment and they earn a wage.  They aren’t on a work experience placement; they are active participants in the workplace.

Businesses all over the country and across Lincolnshire offer apprenticeships in a range of subjects, from accounting to business administration and construction to engineering.  They are a fantastic way of developing your skills and knowledge while you work; a combination of on-the-job training with your employer and off-the-job training arranged with a college, training provider or university. Anyone can apply for an apprenticeship job vacancy, at any age. 

National Apprenticeship Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of apprentices and showcase the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

The theme for this year is ‘Skills for Life’, and it fits neatly with the LEP’s key priority themes for skills:

• To inspire and support young people to stay and work in the area.
• To train and support people who are already working, or seeking jobs, so that they gain the skills needed to take up future job vacancies.

This week we want to highlight the Lincolnshire Apprenticeship Champion Awards. The awards are run in partnership between the Public Service Compact group, Lincolnshire County Council and the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

I’ve been privileged over the years to read applications from apprentices, employers and providers from all over the county, and whether they were selected by the judging panel as finalists or not, they demonstrate the huge scale of experience, expertise and commitment across Lincolnshire.   

Nominations are now open for the 2023 awards and you can find more information and apply here.  Apprentices, employers and apprenticeship providers can all be nominated for awards. 

Throughout this week we’ll be showcasing previous award winners and their achievements, and we’ll also be hearing from some current local apprentices about their experiences.

We encourage everyone to consider apprenticeships this week, whether you are an employer that could offer one or an individual who is interested in upskilling or starting a new career.