Tuesday 11 February 2020
Meet the Apprentices - Selby College celebrates Apprenticeship Week 2020
From the 3rd to the 9th February, Further Education colleges and employers across the UK marked National Apprenticeship Week 2020 – an annual celebration that celebrates the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
As part of Selby College’s Apprenticeship Week focus, our Senior Management Team shadowed current apprentices both in College and in their place of work to demonstrate the wide range of opportunities and benefits open to individual learners and employers in the Selby District and beyond.
Selby College is one of the largest providers of Apprenticeship training in the area and successfully works in partnership with a wide range of employers across Yorkshire and the Humber. We offer a vast range of Apprenticeships across a variety of sectors including Accounting, Hair and Beauty, Business, Catering, Children and Young People, Construction, Engineering, Health and Social Care, Hospitality, IT, Retail and more.
Following publication of the Government’s latest National Achievement Rate Tables in 2019, Selby College was delighted to once again to come in the top 10% of Further Education Colleges nationally for its Apprenticeship provision. With more than 500 apprentices currently on programmes through Selby College we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our learners.
Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes designed for current and future employees aged 16 or above. They allow an individual to develop their skills and understanding in a real working environment whilst earning, which benefits both them and their employer.
An apprenticeship route offers a valuable and recognised alternative to A Levels, Vocational courses and even the traditional degree route, with 90% of apprentices getting a job or going onto further training after finishing an apprenticeship and 71% staying with the same employer*.
Apprenticeships are currently offered at three levels - Intermediate (Level 2), Advanced (Level 3) and Higher (Level 4 and above) across 1500 job roles, covering over 170 industries**. They follow a framework of qualifications which includes an NVQ orDiploma (at a level relevant to the job role), Functional Skills at Level 1 or 2 (if applicable) and a technical certificate or knowledge.
Business Administration Apprentice
Selby College Principal Phil Sayles was the first to step into the shoes of an apprentice – he was shown the ropes on the main Jubilee Reception by Level 3 Business Administration Apprentice Beth Stephenson, who gave him an insight into signing-in visitors, using the phone system and the diary for the day.
Beth, 19, completed her Level 2 framework last year after first studying for her BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business at Selby College and has now progressed onto the Level 3 standard which she will complete in May next year. Speaking of her apprenticeship she said: “I’m really proud of the workplace skills I have developed and how much I have grown in confidence”.
Chef De Partie Apprentice
Deputy Principal Liz Ridley went to visit Level 3 Chef De Partie Apprentice Luke Royle at Loftsome Bridge Hotel.
Luke, 21, will complete his current apprenticeship in March and is enjoying widening his knowledge of desserts, after starting on mains. As well as taking turns with the breakfast and baking shifts he also helps Head Chef Ryan Starkey put together new menu ideas.
Luke said: “The great thing about the team here is that I’m always asked what I would like to do or what I’d like to get involved in, the flexibility is great in terms of how much I am able to learn.
“My favourite dish that I’ve created so far has to be a twist on a classic monkfish served three ways but combined with another dish where it was marinated for two days and prepared with spices, before being served with rice and homemade onion bhajis.”
He studied A Levels at Selby College before deciding to take a career path into Catering, first working at York Marina, and then the Black Dog Inn in Camblesforth where he progressed onto his Level 3 apprenticeship before moving to Loftsome Bridge in August 2019. His first shift was a busy Saturday with 72 covers!
Head Chef Ryan, who has been with the hotel for 14 years, added: “As a full-time team of five, having Luke with us is great as it takes the pressure off, he enjoys the baking side of things and any opportunity to learn something different. There are things that Luke knows more than I do!”
Apprentice Luke isn’t the only one from Selby College in the kitchen at Loftsome Bridge Hotel. He works alongside Level 2 Diploma in Professional Cookery student Tom Ferguson and Work Placement student Freya Storr. Head Chef Ryan, Sous Chef Chris Lawler and Commis Chef Jordan Branton also previously studied with us.
Liz enjoyed learning about the preparation of a delicious goat’s cheese starter, baked cheesecakes and a mouth-watering trio of desserts!
Construction Building Apprentice
Our Director of Marketing & Student Services Linda Tebb shadowed Level 3 Apprentice Sam Ward, who will gain his apprenticeship in Construction Building - Trowel Occupations (Bricklaying) later this year after first gaining his Level 2. The 19-year-old works for AMB Site Services and spends one day a week at Selby College. Sam, who was working on an assessment unit, demonstrated the basics of mixing mortar, trowel techniques and laying a brick which Linda enjoyed getting the chance to do herself!
He was inspired to get into Construction after spending time working for his grandad during the holidays and was keen to progress to Level 3 to build his skills base further.
General Welder Apprentice
At Relentless Engineering on the Thorp Arch Estate near Wetherby, HR Manager Alison Whale was given an introduction to welding by her daughter. Yasmin Whale, now 21, achieved her Level 2 Apprenticeship in General Welding with Selby College after initially studying A Levels elsewhere for a year. She decided on a new route after speaking to course advisors at the College and decided to study for a one-year Level 2 vocational course in Mechanical Engineering.
After successful completion of the full-time course and particularly enjoying the welding elements, Yasmin was delighted to be taken on as an apprentice following a week’s work placement with the firm. The bespoke engineering company also work in stainless and mild steel fabrication for the Construction industry.
Brian Manley, a fabricator welder and colleague said: “She is a joy to work with – I have enjoyed teaching her, she takes on board what you tell her and picks it up well.”
The team also benefited from Yasmin’s apprenticeship as she was able to share the knowledge and theory she learnt from her health and safety training.
Yasmin added: “I am enjoying it a lot. On the first day of my College course I gave welding a go and fell in love with it. I could have progressed to the next level but decided to get an apprenticeship instead. I have really enjoyed all of the different types of jobs you get to do. I am a ‘why not’ sort of person – go for it and see what happens.”
Both Yasmin and workshop manager Dave were impressed by Alison’s efforts at welding. Speaking of the insight to the apprenticeship Alison said: “Yasmin was really good at telling me what to do! It’s been a real role reversal! I have enjoyed coming to see her in her place of work to see what she does. There is something quite creative about it.”
Hair Professional Apprentice
We also headed to Hair Innovation’s brand new salon in Selby. Director of Curriculum & Support Dawn Hardy shadowed Level 2 Hairdressing Apprentices Danielle Goulden, 16 and Charlotte Wraight, 17.
Speaking of their training they said: “We get the best of both worlds as apprentices, it’s more hands-on and we have the support of our employer, assessor Bev and college tutors!”
They both will complete their Apprenticeships in July 2021, and hope to stay on as full-time hair stylists. Danielle and Charlotte spend Mondays in College doing their coursework, and on Wednesdays they can bring in family and friends as clients to work on their portfolios. They watch and learn from Manager Tracy and the team throughout the rest of the week.
Charlotte started her apprenticeship with the salon last September after first working there as a member of the weekend team, a role she got with the support of her tutors at Selby College. Danielle started on a vocational course at College before making the move to an apprenticeship last month, following a work placement with Hair Innovation from October 2019. She added: “Working in the salon gives me more perspective and I’m watching and learning new things all the time”.
To apply or register for vacancies offered through Selby College, email apprenticeships@selby.ac.uk, alternatively call the team on 01757 211097.
*According to the Learners and Apprentices Survey 2018 report*
