At Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, we’re proud of our track record in supporting education and training initiatives at both a local and national level, helping to prepare young people to meet the needs of businesses today and into the future.
We’ve written recently, for example, about our role as joint Designated Lead in the rollout of the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIP) scheme in the region.
Arguably, one of the most effective schemes for closing the gap between young people’s education and their competence in business skills continues to be apprenticeships, and below we have three positive apprentice stories to tell.
One is about the support of the wider British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) for apprenticeship schemes, one about the Government’s forthcoming National Apprenticeship Week, and the third is an apprenticeship case study from within Bedfordshire Chamber’s own four walls.
Promoting apprenticeships nationally
The BCC has been vocal in its support of apprenticeships in all the nations of the UK, and for good reason.
As the apprenticeship section of its website highlights, a key benefit of apprenticeships is ‘their ability to cater to diverse learning styles. Not everyone thrives in a traditional classroom setting, and apprenticeships provide an alternative approach by combining practical, hands-on experience with targeted instruction’. This dual approach enables individuals to grasp concepts more effectively and apply them directly in a real-world context, and this combination ultimately fosters a deeper understanding of their chosen field. As the saying goes, knowing about and knowing how are two very different things.
Of course, this approach benefits the employer, too, since the journey from learning to application is much shortened, meaning apprentices start contributing to the business’s productivity that much more rapidly. Moreover, apprenticeships are a financially attractive option for learners. Unlike traditional education routes that often accumulate substantial student debt, apprenticeships make it possible for participants to earn while they learn, providing both an incentive for individuals to complete the apprenticeship successfully, and an enabler to make it feasible to do so.
More details on employing and paying apprentices, and the apprenticeship funding available to you, can be found on the Government website.
National Apprenticeship Week – get ready!
Every good cause deserves a campaign, and apprenticeships are no different.
If you’re an employer, you need to be aware of the National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), which takes place from February 10 – 16, 2025.
The NAW website is a hub for millions of potential apprentices throughout the UK to find apprenticeship positions, and as an employer you can be involved and facilitate contact to high-quality candidates in two ways.
Firstly, you can apply to NAW Supporters Club, a group of collaborative employers and stakeholders who are committed to help inspire and influence people to choose apprenticeships, as a route to create business and individual success across the country. Supporters Club members will be announced on November 24, so the time to get involved is now! (Follow the social media announcements on X – @Apprenticeships)
Secondly, you’ll shortly be able to download the Employer and Stakeholder toolkit to help you engage more closely with potential apprentices in your area – keep watching the Apprenticeship Awards website for details.
Our new apprentice
Here at Beds Chamber, we’ve demonstrated our own commitment to the apprenticeship scheme by recruiting one ourselves, and the story is an uplifting one.
Kiahna Mitchell initially came to us after one of our Connect Over Coffee events that she helped organise as a student at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Luton. The event was a great success (in fact, we christened it ‘the QE6 takeover’), and Kiahna, inspired by the work, started a two-week work experience placement at the Chamber.
She’s now embarked on her Business Administrator Level 3 apprenticeship, focusing on marketing and events, which, over 21 months, combines study with valuable work in the heart of our team.
Kiahna’s apprenticeship has already seen her involved in the planning and execution of several Chamber events, and our marketing presence at others, including Business Expo, and this year’s SME Bedfordshire Business Awards.
Another interest the apprenticeship enables Kiahna to develop and refine is social media. She’s even set up the Chamber’s Instagram account, giving us a new presence on this high-profile platform.
Kiahna said: “Before the Chamber came to my college, I didn’t know anything about Chambers of Commerce, but now I’ve learned how Bedfordshire Chamber draws businesses closer together, and I want my work here to support that.”
A young apprentice today, a professional who’ll make a real difference to a business tomorrow – and as an employer, we’re nurturing a skill set that will quickly translate into results.
This is why, at the Chamber, apprentices like Kiahna mean so much to us – and businesses like yours could benefit from the same experience.
Find out more about employing an apprentice at the Gov website and about National Apprenticeship Week at their website.
For more information, visit the British Chambers website or to become a Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce member, call 01582 522448
