This year, the National Apprenticeship Week is the 17th annual celebration of apprenticeships.
The National Apprenticeship Week brings together everyone who is passionate about apprenticeships to remind and celebrate the value, benefits and opportunities apprenticeships bring, not only to the individuals who decide to take on, but to the businesses as well.
An apprenticeship is a great alternative way for individuals to develop the knowledge and skills required for a rewarding career, and for employers to build a team with future ready skills.
Apprenticeships are not just for young individuals starting their professional lives, but also for others who want to change their career paths and retrain in another industry.
Our Apprentices
At Affinity we are delighted to be able to offer apprenticeship opportunities to individuals. Our apprentices are an integral part of our teams, brining their own skills and enthusiasm to their roles, and truly living by our value ‘every day is a learning day’.
This week we introduced Joe, our ICT apprentice, and Ryan, our HSE apprentice.
Joe, after deciding that university was not for him and working in a few different roles, decided to retrain in an industry he is passionate about. The ICT apprenticeship at Affinity came up at the right time and Joe hasn’t looked back since.
Since joining our organisation, Joe has become an integral part of the Affinity family being involved in key projects, such as the launch of our new AR glasses, which he proudly showcased at the 2024 Parliamentary Apprenticeships Fair in Westminster.
Ryan worked in the care industry before focusing on fire safety. For Ryan, who was looking for his next challenge, an apprenticeship in Health, Safety and Environment was the next logical step.
Ryan is the perfect example of someone, who after years in a profession, decided to stir the course of their career to a different direction via the apprenticeship route. Ryan joined us in November 2023 and brought with him a wealth of experience, skills and an appetite to learn.
Parliamentary Apprenticeships Fair
On Tuesday, 6 February, we attended and exhibited at the Parliamentary Apprenticeships Fair in Westminster.
The event was opened by Andrew Jones MP. Speeches were given by: Kevin Hollinrake MP, Minister for Small Businesses; Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, Secretary of State for Education; and Jonathan Gullis MP, Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships.
Kevin Hollinrake MP mentioned how the apprenticeships have positive effects on individuals and businesses. They are a way for people to invest in their careers, and help businesses improve their productivity at the same time. In fact, 78% business have reported an increase in productivity after employing an apprentice.
Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, during her speech, mentioned the importance of an all-age apprenticeship system, which empowers productivity, and the economy in the long run, There are 4 countries offering an all-age apprenticeship system, one of which is the UK.
“I believe that you and we have built the best apprenticeship system in the world that will enable anyone at any age to get wherever they want to in life, wherever they are in the country.” Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP
“The apprenticeships are absolutely critical to the future of our nation. No longer can we allow university to be considered the sole gold standard in society. But actually what we need to do it drive that balance.”
Jonathan Gullis MP
Our team had the chance to discuss the positive effects of apprenticeships on the individuals and businesses, as well as the challenges small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face when trying to implement apprenticeship programmes.
Joe had the unique opportunity to talk about his apprenticeship experience with members of the parliament, including Ian Levy MP, Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, and Jonathan Gullis MP. He also showcased our AR glasses to Members of the Parliament and talked about the advantages of incorporating them into our daily operations. Some even tried them on!