Acorn was proud to support Apprenticeship Week which took place from Monday 6th to Friday 10th February, 2012 and was dedicated to celebrating the skills and enthusiasm apprentices bring to employers across England.
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what is National Apprenticeship Week?
National Apprenticeship Week is a window of opportunity to celebrate the value of apprenticeships and promote the benefits of employing apprentices to employers.
Ultimately this week is about giving more people a chance. Many apprentices go on to do ‘great’ things for their employers, who in turn say apprentices make their workplaces more productive.
In support of this initiative, Acorn is called on businesses to, not only make use of its valuable work-based training programme to up-skill staff but also, look to hire an apprentice when considering future recruitment.
As Apprentice Provider of the Year (Wales), Acorn understands that in a complex and challenging sector, ongoing training and development of your team is critical. Apprenticeships are nationally recognised qualifications, which can help support your team members to improve their performance and enhance the service they provide to your customers.
Apprenticeships are not just for new entrants to your business, but can be used to accredit the skills and competency of your more experienced existing workforce.
Apprenticeships fuel the future skills base of the nation and, via our funding contracts, Acorn may be able to offer financial assistance to your organisation to support the implementation of these national standards. In some instances this can be 100% of the cost.
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Acorn recognises employers commitment to offering apprenticeships
employer recognition
In support of National Apprenticeship Week, Acorn has presented certificates to recognise our clients for their commitment and support of their staff through apprenticeships. Ann Mc Connon, Head of Corporate Development at Acorn, said:
“Apprenticeships offer excellent opportunities, not just for employers but for people wanting to get thorough, professional training with a nationally-recognised qualification and transferable skills. It’s extremely important that we recognise the commitment of both apprentices and employers, not only during Apprenticeship week but, throughout the year.”
Scottish & Southern learners
DAS learners
"In 2008, with the help of Acorn, DAS introduced an apprenticeship programme, which gave our staff the opportunity to complete apprenticeships in areas such as Customer Service and Learning & Development, together with Foundation and Advanced Apprenticeships in Retail Financial Services (General Insurance).
The results have been fantastic! The Apprenticeship in Retail Financial Services enables our staff to achieve the 'Certificate in Insurance' and a Level 3 Vocational Qualification specific to their job role. This is a key qualification to hold in this industry and it has given our staff a broad knowledge of insurance principles and key disciplines.
We are very proud of the apprenticeship programme and can boast that we now have over 90% of our customer facing staff either qualified, or studying towards their Certificate in Insurance. The success of the programme allows us to demonstrates the wealth of knowledge and experience we are able to offer our customers and business partners alike.
As a result, the apprenticeships are now built into our training plan and are offered to all new staff upon joining the company. We actively encourage all new starters to take up the apprenticeship and it is viewed as a 'must have' for any of our customer facing staff."
Ryan Williams Cert CII
Operational Learning & Development Trainer
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how apprenticeships benefit your business
using apprenticeships to expand your workforce
As an employer, the opportunity to shape and develop a person into an employee who carries all the skills and values you require is invaluable. By providing an apprenticeship to an individual it can provide your business with a cost-effective way of employing new staff, who can learn to do things your way, whilst participating in work based learning and undertaking a qualification to broaden their own skill base.
Prior to any training launch we will work closely with your organisation to ensure that we fully understand the criteria of the job role and person specification, this will ensure that the selected apprenticeships are a suitable match for your staff’s training and business needs.
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recruiting an apprentice for your business
how Acorn can help?
Working with Connections, and other referral agencies, Acorn identifies suitable apprenticeship applicants and presents a shortlist, that has been screened to an agreed criteria, to your organisation.
If you have a vacancy and would like to investigate the possibility of using apprenticeships to fill this opportunity, whilst enjoying the benefits that it would bring to your company, please call 01633 674 555 or click here to contact us online.
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are you looking to undertake an apprenticeship?
would you like to work whilst undertaking a qualification to broaden your skills?
Acorn has established a network of employers who are looking for keen, motivated people and who would like the opportunity to learn and contribute to the workplace.
If you’ve got a good idea of where you want to go with your career and like the idea of earning while you learn, an apprenticeship could be for you. Alternatively, if you have been working in your role for some time and would like to accredit the skills and competency you have gained, then an apprenticeship can give you a recognised qualification.
Please see a full list of apprenticeships we can provide below, and click here to see the apprenticeship qualifications available in England, via Acorn.
apprenticeship programmes are available in the following career paths:
- retail
- customer service
- administration
- financial services
- insurance
- management / team leading
benefits to the learner
work-based learning:
- helps you prepare for work or your career development
- helps to demonstrate you can do a job to national standards and have the up-to-date skills employers are looking for
- saves you time as you don't have to sit through hours, days, weeks or even years of a course - competency-based qualifications are about putting learning into practice
- is flexible - you can do the qualification at your pace, and as part of your normal job
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see what our learners have to say
“My confidence has grown and I have learnt more about my abilities to work at a higher level.”
Management / Team Leading Apprentice
"I found Acorn to be very efficient and approachable and I worked well with my Assessor. I will be recommending Acorn to other colleagues and anybody wishing to undertake a similar programme”
Business and Administration Apprentice
"The various elements of the apprenticeship are all related to insurance, which has helped improve my knowledge and how the industry works. The apprenticeship has made me think more about how I deal with people and my quality of service.”
Insurance Apprenticeship
"The Apprenticeship scheme is fantastic and Acorn does a fabulous job, I’d recommend it to any parent for their child. Acorn showed my daughter a great deal of patience and support without which she would not have been successful in getting her present job."
Parent of a Business and Administration Apprentice