It’s Day 2 of National Apprenticeship Week 2012!

CEO Ian Harper will be on the radio today discussing the current issues pertaining to apprenticeships. The following stations will carry the message.

  • BBC Radio Oxford
  • Big L
  • BBC Radio London
  • www.AdferoNews.com
  • Inspiration Fm
  • 106 JACK FM Oxfordshire
  • Represzent 107.3

If you are in the High Wycombe area, come and see us at the Job Centre Apprenticeship Fair being held in the AMF Bowling Centre from 2pm to 4pm this afternoon. We’ll be able to answer all your Apprenticeship-related questions and discuss our current vacancies with you.

See you there!

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It’s National Apprenticeship Week 2012!

It’s National Apprenticeship Week 2012! We are currently recruiting for a number of Apprenticeship positions in a variety of sectors, including Manufacturing, Business & Administration and Customer Service. For more details, go to: http://www.atgapprenticeships.com

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University system under the spotlight

Stephen Smyth Marketing ManWith the University system currently under the spotlight, now is a timely moment to consider the alternatives. 

Whilst a University education may be the pinnacle for a student, the financial burden on their career in its formative years is such that often the social elements of home and health can suffer. I can speak from experience: I have four children, two of whom are at University and the other two about to embark on their studies.  The bank of Mum and Dad are under severe strain.

However, had these young people chosen the alternative route of an apprenticeship (as did a friend of my daughter), within six months they could have a qualification, including a technical certificate. Not only that, but help in finding a job, where they could continue their training and earn a salary. So instead of running up a debt, they would be earning a salary whilst training and gaining experience.

With around 40% of school leavers attending a University degree course, one has to muse if this is too many, when an apprenticeship offers such an attractive alternative for those minded to have a career where they use their dexterity and skill to manufacture and create something.

I’m not suggesting that one solution fits all. However thinking of my daughter’s situation makes me wince.

Her good friend at school decided to take an Engineering Apprenticeship and started her course with ATG Training in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. My daughter took up a place at Canterbury Christ Church reading English.

Five years later, Jenny is now studying for her Masters Degree and still running up costs with no immediate prospect of paying back those costs.  Meanwhile, Sophie has been at work for five years at a science and technology company, is a star employee and has an income that allows her to have a lifestyle with her own home and car.

Who has made the right decision? Well, both have for their own particular needs. However, this type of information is not at the forefront of young people’s minds when they are faced with decisions at a critical time in their lives. They are not advised by schools and are not really ready for the responsibility that level of decision generates.  

Career Education is the key to help young people and this should start in their early teens.

Stephen Smyth

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Why should I recruit an ATG Apprentice?

I want to ask you if you have ever considered hiring an apprentice for your company and explain to you why an ATG APPRENTICE is a WORK READY Apprentice.
One of the common oppositions that ATG receives from employers is that whilst they would be happy to employ an apprentice, they often feel that the initial few months involves a lot of development and support from the employer in order to get the apprentice up to speed in the job that they were hired to do. This leads to many employers seeking other ‘quick fix’ options, such as using recruitment agencies or other expensive recruitment methods to hire experienced (and more expensive) employees.
This is where a WORK READY ATG APPRENTICE has helped change employers opinions. At ATG, an ATG APPRENTICE is treated like an employee whilst they train with us. From day one, they ‘work’ between 3 – 6 months full time, on a Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm week, and spend 3.5 half days physically working on the practical skills required to do the job in their chosen vocation. This practical experience is backed up by a further 1.5 days a week in the classroom, and in most cases, a varied and diverse two week work experience placement.

Ok, I can see that ATG APPRENTICES are trained differently, but why should my business hire an ATG APPRENTICE?

Many organisations shy away from discussing the key element that most benefits their company. The simple fact of the matter is that an ATG APPRENTICE is a cheap, skilled and effective labour supply.
An ATG APPRENTICE is WORK READY. They can already undertake a large number of job duties in their chosen field and will have already gained a good level of qualification (both a technical certificate and an NVQ level 2.) This means that they require little supervision to get them up to speed and then start generating your business an income.
The cost of hiring and then employing an apprentice is considerably more cost effective than hiring a more experienced employee. If you build in recruitment costs, and the enhanced wages that will pay experienced employees, whilst you will usually see a more immediate return on your investment, the medium to long term return on your investment is dwarfed by the return you would get from investing in the development of an apprentice. You will need to spend some of your time developing the apprentice to meet your company’s needs which does have a cost implication, but in the medium to long term, the financial return will be worth it.

So, if I do decide to hire, what are my commitments to the ATG APPRENTICES’ Further education?

 ATG will take care of their further and continued education. All we ask is that you offer them a varied and diverse work experience in a safe working environment and that you allow them a maximum of one day a week over a 14 month period to continue their education in order to further boost their portfolio of useful vocational skills.

What support can I get?

The education of your apprentice is covered by the government. Over a 3 year period, the government will contribute nearly £15,000 to the education of the apprentice.  There are periodic incentives from the government and local charity organisations that will offer financial support to employers who wish to hire an ATG APPRENTICE. Visit our website www.atg-training.co.uk for the latest news on these incentives.

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Electrical Training

Electrical Apprentice

ATG has expanded its Electrical Training area and can now accommodate 36 students on its six-month, full-time programme.  With excellent instructor-to-student ratios, ATG Training has a track record of starting apprentices on a career in electrical installation and maintenance.  With ATG’s recruitment cycles,  there are start dates to suit anyone so applicants need not be constrained by the academic year. 

Contact ATG Training to find out how to join this exciting programme.

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Record numbers of Apprentices

 

Director of Learning and Skills

Director of Learning and Skills

Success rates for apprenticeships have been increasing each year as the LSC and Ofsted drive providers to raise standards.  ATG Training’s success rates for 2008/9 are looking very good, particularly the number of apprentices completing their programmes within the specified time limit.  This has been achieved by investment in technology for the assessor teams and a better approach to caseloads and visit frequencies.

I wonder whether the high numbers of completions was influenced by the lack of funding for 2009/10 – providers may have accelerated the programmes of many apprentices to ensure their completions were funded.

Whilst encouraging, the participation in skills for life courses needs to be considered alongside the numbers of Britons who are considered illiterate or innumerate, numbers which are far too high in some areas of the country.  There is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure that students do not leave compulsory education with less than an acceptable level of literacy and numeracy.  It should not be left to FE or work-based learning to develop what 11+ years of schooling has failed to address.  Many employers are shocked at the levels of literacy and numeracy among prospective apprentices and the fundamental education that is required before skills-based training can begin.

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Record numbers start an Apprenticeship

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=407817&NewsAreaID=2&ClientID=431

and many of these people learn with ATG Training. Over 1,000 benefit locally from the apprenticeship  training programmes we deliver. They learn new skills that employers love. You could find out more at an Open Day. The next one is on Novemeber 18th at the Future Centre.

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quick funding guide

With the ever changing funding criteria um, ever changing, we have produced a quick guide to help you see what might be available to you.

We’ve tried to keep it as simple as possible but sometimes even we struggle to keep up!

The apprenticeship programme is available to individuals aged between 16 and 24 as long as they don’t hold a degree. Places are pretty limited so availability changes on a daily basis.

Train to Gain is available to anyone aged 19+ regardless of prior level of qualification.

Read the guide to funded cycle maintenance qualifications in more detail here.

We’re happy to talk you through the options, just contact us for more info (details on the main website).

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