Acorn was proud to support Apprenticeship Week Wales 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 Wales.
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what is Apprenticeship Week Wales?
Apprenticeship Week in Wales is a window of opportunity to celebrate the value of apprenticeships and promote the benefits of employing apprentices to employers.
Ultimately Apprenticeship Week Wales 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 it's 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.
Welsh Government believes in apprenticeships because they fuel the future skills base of the nation. Via our funding contract with them, Acorn may be able to offer financial assistance to your organisation to support the implementation of these national standards, and in some instances this can be 100% of the cost.
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Acorn recognises employers commitment to offering apprenticeships
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 businesses
using Apprenticeships to build the workforce of the future
Academic qualifications can be a great indicator of an individual’s ability for future employers but some people are more suited to a vocational route where they can demonstrate and develop their skills in a more hands-on-environment. To support this requirement, Acorn offers a range of apprenticeship programmes to employers and their apprentices, which is a great way of combining learning with the real world of work.
Prior to any training launch, we will work closely with your organisation to ensure we fully understand the criteria of the job role and person specification, which will ensure that the selected apprenticeships are a suitable match for your staff’s training and business needs.
Click here to see how apprenticeships benefit your business.
what are the criteria for employing an apprentice?
An apprentice would be:
- aged 16+
- working five days per week in your company (maximum 40 hours)
- employed on an apprenticeship contract
- paid a minimum of £2.60 per hour (for at least the first year of their apprenticeship, then, if applicable, receive an hourly rate of pay, which is in line with the national minimum wage)
- allowed to complete an industry recognised qualification
See how other businesses have benefited from recruiting and training apprentices supported by Acorn
DAS
"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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recruiting an apprentice for your business
how Acorn can help?
Working with Careers Wales and other referral agencies, Acorn has established a network of keen, motivated people all looking for an opportunity to learn and contribute to the workplace.
Acorn will identify suitable apprenticeship applicants for your organisation and initially screen them to an agreed criteria. We will then present a shortlist of applicants to you for interview.
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 click here, or for further information please call 01633 674 555, or contact us online. Alternatively for further information regarding eligibility criteria please click here.
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are you looking to undertake an apprenticeship?
Would you like to work whilst undertaking a qualification to broaden your skills?
Working with Careers Wales, Acorn has established a network of employers who are looking for keen and motivated people 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.
apprenticeship programmes are available in the following career paths:
- customer service
- administration
- retail
- providing financial services (banking)
- providing financial services (general insurance)
- management / team leading
- contact centre
- distribution & warehousing
- learning & development
- care
- manufacturing & engineering
Click here to see a full list of apprenticeship qualification programmes available in Wales.
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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read what our learners 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 & Administration Apprentice
“The various elements of the Apprenticeship 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