Apprentices

"...Delivering Apprenticeships with employers across Birmingham, Warwickshire and the West Midlands."

Thousands of businesses across Britain have already benefited from taking on and training apprentices, which is an excellent and cost-effective way to invest in an organisation's future.

Solihull College is one of the leading employee training providers in the West Midlands and Warwickshire with its dedicated Employer Services team currently working with business across Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry and across the UK.

Apprenticeships offer young people the opportunity to launch their careers by combining workbased training with education that leads to qualifications. Contributing to their chosen business, the young people earn as they learn and follow a structured training programme as the first step on a long-term employment path. The Apprentice programmes are offered at both Foundation Level 2 and advanced Level 3.

How can apprentices help your business?

By providing apprenticeships:

• you will find it easier to recruit able young people
• they will be equipped with the knowledge to do the job well
• because apprenticeships are designed by businesses in your sector; training will be relevant to your organisation
• employees will be encouraged to stay and progress within your company
• you will be acquiring skills for your business that allow you to keep abreast of changes
• you will be developing your workforce for the future - including potential supervisors and managers.

"Apprenticeships - a job well done! They were well groomed and prepared, and full of confidence. All 11 apprentices on the latest programme have been retained by SMBC (Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council). This not only helped the youngsters secure a career in local government, it also helps the Council's staff retention record by bringing them in at an early age and training them for long term employment."

Commented Chris Everill from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council at the Solihull College Apprenticeship Awards Evening.

Who can apply for an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are available to anyone from the age of 16 who wishes to become experienced and trained in a particular industry, whether they are new or already employed in the sector. The duration of training depends on the chosen vocational area and level. Achieving the full Apprenticeship Framework can take from 12 to 48 months. Trainees receive some pay while learning (although this will be less than a full-time employee would get).

What apprenticeships does Solihull College support?

We already offer a wide range of Apprenticeship programmes in the following areas:

• Animal Care
• Business and Administration
• Cleaning and Support Services
• Children’s Care, Learning and Development
• Construction
• Customer Service
• Distribution, Warehouse and Storage Operations
• Engineering
• Hairdressing
• Health and Social Care
• Horticulture
• Hospitality and Catering
• IT
• Management
• Music
• Retail
• Retail (Garden Centre Environment)
• Sport
• Theatre

We have around 400 students working on our apprenticeship programmes.

How we work with you

Apprenticeships are designed to be easy for employers and young people, so the college takes care of all aspects of training and delivery.
As a training provider we will:

• provide a learner training plan in accordance with the job requirements
• recruit an apprentice for you or enrol an existing member of your staff on the scheme
• regularly visit apprentices at work, to observe and review them.
• ensure best practice, and that national quality standards are met
• provide and deliver quality training.

Find out how our apprentices are helping businesses here.

All we ask of you is to:

• release your apprentices on day release for training
• allow time to take Key Skills/Technical Certificate exams (if relevant)
• provide assessment/review time within the workplace
• consider scheduling activities for your apprentices that will provide training and professional
• development opportunities

For further information please download the below brochure