Career Boosting Apprenticeship Success – Wyre Forest

Apprenticeships offer a pathway for employers to build a talented and skilled future workforce and now there are more incentives for those who use the pathway.

Kidderminster manufacturing firm, Amada UK has been an advocate of the apprenticeship scheme with apprentice intakes each year and even seeing success with their programme at the Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards.

Laura Barrett, one of their apprentices, demonstrates the significant boost that apprenticeships can provide to a young person’s early career.

After finishing her GCSEs at Stourport High School, Laura had plans to become a mechanical engineer in the RAF but wanted extra time to consider all her career options so opted to continue her education at Stourport Sixth Form to study A levels.  Although she enjoyed the original courses she chose to study, she felt this didn’t translate into satisfactory exam grades.

She then found an apprenticeship at Amada and with the help of a local training provider, Worcestershire Group Training Association went on to not only complete her Level 2 Apprenticeship in Business Administration and but also commence her Level 3 qualification as well.

Laura said, “I have found this apprenticeship hard work at times, but very beneficial as I have found myself and found my strengths as well as having gained so much experience, some great new friends and colleagues all through this apprenticeship opportunity.”

Nigel Morgan from WGTA added, “Our training team have nothing but the highest praise for Laura, who’s approach to her apprenticeship has been exceptional, with a positive attitude and willingness to learn.  This is reflected in achievement to date and progression through to the level 3 programme.  Laura has taken the opportunity provided by Amada and grasped it with both hands, becoming a high performing member of the business and is a leading example of the benefit apprenticeships have to the apprentice and the employer.”

In the Government’s Summer Statement, a range of new support incentives were launched for employers who take on an apprentice with a payment of £2000 to employers who take on a young person between the age of 16-24 in addition to the pre-existing £1000 available for 16-18 year old apprentices.  A grant of £1500 is available for apprentices over the age of 25 or over.

For more information about how to access the apprenticeship support that is available to employers and young people, please contact Worcestershire Apprenticeships by emailing info@worcsapprenticeships.org.uk or calling 0300 666 3 666.