Midlands Enterprise Universities is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week this week with a host of events in partnership with some of the region’s leading employers.
Between them, the seven partner MEU universities have thousands of apprentices learning on a variety of courses from paramedicine to policing, chartered manager to civil engineering and construction.
The theme of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Build the Future’ and focuses on the many ways that apprentices are having a positive impact on the workplace.
People can hear from apprentices about the difference that their new studies are having on their career, and from employers who are discovering the benefits of developing their employees’ talents.
Here’s just a sample of the events which have taken place:
NOTTINGHAM: Test ground Trent Bridge was the venue for the Nottingham Apprenticeship Conference, being run by Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham College and Nottingham Jobs.
Will Morlidge, Interim Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership gave keynote speech on key aims, aspirations and challenges for the region and how Apprenticeships can help to build the future. This was followed by industry specific roundtable discussions with employers, apprenticeship providers and apprentices.
DERBY: Derby celebrated its apprentices with an awards ceremony, held as part of a day-long event at its Kedleston Road campus. The event brought in would-be apprentices and employers looking for learners together. Managers and apprentices shared their experiences of studying on the courses and spoke to members of the public.
BIRMINGHAM CITY: Deputy Vice-Chancellor Peter Francis chaired an online webinar with employers focusing on how to get the most from apprenticeships and the best way of onboarding new talent. The BBC, National Express, Arcadis and the NHS were among the employers taking part, as well as partner FE colleges.
MEU partners also shared success stories from learners on their courses, from those working at Aston Martin and studying at Coventry University, to members of Leicestershire Police studying at De Montfort University. 