The latest figures have revealed hundreds of businesses across the county are benefitting from working with Northampton College apprentices.
During the past academic year, the award-winning college has supported more than 400 apprentices in over 350 businesses in a wide range of sectors.
The college’s close working relationships with its apprentices’ employers received praise in its latest Ofsted report a few months ago which also highlighted the college’s efforts to ensure its apprentices ‘rapidly become useful’ to their employers.
Northampton College Principal Jason Lancaster said: “We’re very proud to partner with forward-thinking organisations which have enabled us to support more than 400 apprentices and together train tomorrow’s workforce.
“Our apprentices learn practical skills in our state-of-the-art facilities, have the chance to earn a wage while they gain experience valued by employers and benefit from expert teachers with industry experience and knowledge. As a result, 92% of our apprentices go on to progress in work and education in their chosen field.
“For employers, apprenticeships provide them with a highly effective way to invest in their current and future employees while addressing skills shortages within their industries.
“Each of our qualifications is designed with the support of employers so their new employees are equipped with the skills they need to keep pace with the latest changes in their industries.”
Jason said some businesses worry about taking on apprentices because of concerns about red tape, but this is no longer the challenge it once was.
He said: “Red tape may have been an issue 25 years ago but that’s not the case anymore and there’s lots of support available to help employers who want to take on apprentices.
“Smaller employers are eligible for government funding which will pay between 95% and 100% of their apprentice training costs.
“In addition, the average estimated yearly gain for UK employers ranges from £2,500 and £18,000 per apprentice during their training period.”
Northampton College offers apprenticeships in Accounting; Barbering and Hairdressing; Business and Economics; Childcare and Early Years; Construction and the Built Environment; Culinary Arts; Customer Service; Engineering and Manufacturing; Motor Vehicle Engineering; and Fabrication and Welding.
One of the businesses to benefit from working with Fabrication and Welding apprentices is Brixworth-based Spitfire Engineering Services Ltd.
Managing and Technical Director Gavin Franklin, who is also a former Northampton College student, said: “We’ve taken on a new apprentice every year for the past four years and as an employer we have helped to mould them.
“Time and time again we’ve found that our apprentices are the individuals who are most in tune with our company. This is one of the reasons that apprentices are so valuable – as an employer you end up with people who truly understand the business and want to be there.
“We also get a huge amount of satisfaction from developing home-grown talent. We’ve taken on apprentices as young as 16 and over time developed them into successful team leaders.
“We really value the partnership we have with Northampton College. Its team collaborates with us incredibly well, its facilities are very good and its lecturers are knowledgeable and help our apprentices to learn a broad range of skills.
“We’d advise other Northamptonshire employers who are interested in apprenticeships, and are looking to partner with an organisation to take care of their apprentices’ learning, to contact Northampton College.”
