Learning Unlimited say parents could hold the power to help their children make the right career and study choices. They have pledged to help them get the right information after the findings of their survey highlighted that misconceptions about modern apprenticeships could mean young people aren’t getting the right advice.

A recent survey commissioned by the apprenticeship provider indicates that almost a third of parents of secondary school age children surveyed in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire aren’t aware that apprenticeships are available in their area and almost two-thirds don’t know what industries apprenticeships are available in.

The survey highlighted that although parents are broadly supportive of apprenticeships, they might not know how far earning and learning in this way can take their child or what apprenticeship roles are available.

Learning Unlimited say it is time for apprenticeship providers and employers to work much closer with parents to help them understand the opportunities that modern apprenticeships can offer their children. They are launching initiatives during National Apprenticeship Week (6 -10 March) to help parents get the information they need.

Julie Richards, Principal and Chief Executive of Learning Unlimited, part of the Chesterfield College Group said:

“We believe that by working more closely with parents we can help young people find out if an apprenticeship is the best way to get the experience and qualifications they need for a successful career.”

“Apprenticeships have changed so much in the last few years and keeping up with the changes can be a challenge. We want to work closer with parents to help them understand the changes so they are better equipped to consider apprenticeships as an option. We are providing a range of ways for parents to get the latest facts and information to assist them when it comes to helping their children make the right choice for the future.”

The survey also revealed that there is still some way to go to convince parents that apprenticeships can offer a good way for their children to gain qualifications. Only just over half of parents of secondary school children across the country and 64% in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire agree that apprenticeships offer the same opportunities as full time study. Similarly, almost half of the parents surveyed either didn’t know or believed that apprenticeships were for ‘non-academic’ learners.

Claire Wood, Co-owner of Stephensons coffee shop in Chesterfield, an ex-teacher who now employs apprentices and is a parent of an apprentice has a unique insight into how valuable apprenticeships are and where they can lead. She told us:

“As a business owner, I believe apprentices are vital to give the organisation the skills it needs. Apprenticeships are also good for the local economy and help me to employ local people. As a parent, I have seen how apprenticeships have enabled my son to develop a passion for something he loves at the same time as getting the qualifications that will help his career to develop in the future. He is now a co-owner of the business, managing a team of staff including other apprentices and is ahead of peers who chose the university route.”

A helpful parent’s guide to apprenticeships is available at  www.learningunlimiteduk.com/parents-guide

Chancellor Philip Hammond’s pledge at the weekend of an additional £500m to boost vocational and technical skills has been welcomed by East Midlands Chamber.

Mr Hammond described the “shake-up” to education that will come from the additional funding as “the biggest since the introduction of A-levels 70 years ago”.

Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Director of Policy, said: “For many years we have been striving for closer integration between employers and education.

“The lack of skills demonstrated by young people looking for their first job is a recurrent issue in our quarterly economic surveys, but so is the paucity of available workers with enhanced and specialist skills, particularly in the engineering sector.

“For too long, apprenticeships were seen as the poor relation to a degree-level education, but this is far from being true as on-the-job training is the only real way to acquire the hands-on skills and experience employers need.

“With the potential scenario of not being able to recruit from a pan-European pool of trained workers once Britain has left the EU, now more than ever it is essential that young people leaving education in the UK have the skills to fill the void.

“The £500m pledged by the Chancellor for courses starting in the 2019/20 academic year will go some way towards helping to close the skills gap but that means it could be 2022 – five years from now and three years after we, potentially, lose the available pool of skilled workers – before employers begin to feel any appreciable benefit.

“We would urge Chancellor Hammond and Education Secretary Justine Greening to work together now to find funding and devise programmes to begin closing the skills gap much earlier than five years from now.”

Two exciting digital support programmes are being rolled out by East Midlands Chamber.

The D2N2 Digital Growth Programme and the LLEP Digital Growth Programme will offer bespoke and structured digital business support and advice across the whole of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Diane Simpson, the Chamber’s Deputy Chief Executive, said:-

“Knowing the true value of digital technology and understanding what is right for your business can be a daunting challenge, making it all too easy to miss out on opportunities for improvement.

“The two programmes we’re delivering seek to encourage enterprises with growth aspirations to explore and introduce new and emerging ICT products to improve their competitiveness and productivity.”

Over the next two years the programmes will together deliver 580 action-planning workshops, annual digital conferences, dedicated digital business advice, workforce development skills advice and a technology grant scheme worth £3.8m – to be 60% matched by participating SMEs.

The programmes, which are open to businesses, charities and other organisations, will engage with at least 3,662 enterprises through dedicated marketing and activities, resulting in 1,534 enterprises receiving intensive support, the creation of 170 new businesses and 1,278 SMEs introducing new digital processes.

Both programmes will be delivered through the Chamber’s dedicated and specialist eBusiness Club team.

The D2N2 programme is part-funded by East Midlands Chamber, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, The Creative Quarter Company, Rushcliffe Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council and the European Regional Development Fund.

Businesses attending the free launches will learn about the participation criteria and hear from specially appointed advisers before being given an opportunity to register for the programme and the available technology grants.

The programme will be launching in Chesterfield on 23rd March at the Proact Stadium.

The launch events provide delegates with opportunities to:

• discover how businesses can benefit from this new and exciting opportunity
• officially register with the programme (demand is already proving to be high)
• secure a place on future strategic action-planning workshops
• register an interest in applying for technology grant funding
• meet with a dedicated Digital Business Adviser to discuss business needs or technology investment in more detail.