North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) is encouraging employers to show their love of apprentices, during National Apprenticeship Week as we build back better.
The 15th annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, from 7 –13 February, takes place in the light of decline in apprenticeship achievement across all sectors and age groups. We are encouraging our residents and businesses to support our ‘I heart apprenticeships’ message setting out why we love apprenticeships, both for our residents and for our business that make this region the best place to live and work.
Cllr Karen Kilgour, North of Tyne Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and Skills said: “The opportunity to ‘earn and learn’ on an apprenticeship after leaving school is a great way to start on a successful career, gain valuable workplace skills and build financial independence. National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to say how much we at the North of Tyne love apprenticeships, and our Apprenticeship Hub ensures that they are easy to access for young people across the region.” This is an important part of our ambition to secure good jobs with fair living wages for young people, and everyone, in the region.”
NTCA wants to increase the number of apprentices working in the areas that are key to our economic growth as set out in ‘Opportunity for All’, the North of Tyne Strategic Skills Plan. The areas are.
- health
- public services and care
- engineering and manufacturing
- construction, planning and the built environment.
We also want to see more younger people across the region taking an apprenticeship. The Combined Authority intends to build on the success of our Apprenticeship Hub, which has seen over thirty new employers engage with the Hub since it was launched in September 2021. As we start recovering from the economic impact of the pandemic, we want to further explore how we can support our businesses increase the numbers of apprentices from traditionally under-represented communities, such as those with additional learning needs.
We want to see Levy funding stay in the region to support our residents and businesses, rather than being recouped back to the treasury. This will be key in building an inclusive economy, and better future, for us all. To encourage more, and share our love of, apprenticeships we want to hear from employers who have Apprenticeship Levy to share, or employers who are looking for someone to share Levy with them to employ more apprentices – to get in touch.
The benefits of taking on an apprenticeship:
- 78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity, and
- 74% of employers saying that apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service.
(Source: HM Govt https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/employers/benefits-of-hiring-apprentice
The North of Tyne apprenticeship programme is part of our ambition for Good Work in the region, which we’re promoting with the Good Work Pledge. To find out more about the NTCA apprenticeship programme go to the Apprenticeship landing page for more information. or contact Andrew.Gladstone.Heighton@northoftyne-ca.gov.uk