Island-wide celebration of apprenticeship opportunities

Stories from students, employers and lecturers will be used to showcase the important bridge between education and employment during National Apprenticeship Week (NAW).

NAW runs from the February 5 to 11.

The stories and insights will be shared on University College Isle of Man’s social channels to draw attention to the advantages of an ‘earn while you learn’ approach to education and bust some of the myths around apprenticeships.

National Apprenticeship Week

Throughout the week, teams across Government along with industry partners will be collaboratively celebrating the occasion to highlight its importance. 

University College Isle of Man (UCM) and the Department for Enterprise (DFE) will be sharing stories from apprentices, employers and lecturers on social media, along with supporting displays in the Island’s high schools, UCM and partnering organisations.

Love Tech has organised for a team from McLaren Automotive to visit schools and UCM. Finally, the week will culminate in UCM’s open event where there will be a dedicated National Apprenticeship Week stand for anyone wanting to find out more. 

Careers Team

Jan Gimbert, Employability Lead at the Department of Education, Sport & Culture said: “The Careers Team are pleased to be supporting NAW again this year. 

“Most people are aware of the importance of apprenticeship routes into sectors such as construction and engineering, but may not realise that apprenticeship models of employment and training are used across a much wider range of local industries including banking, finance, IT, hairdressing & barbering, hospitality and childcare.

Jan Gimbert, Employability Lead at the Department of Education, Sport & Culture

“By celebrating NAW, we hope to raise the profile of this option as a way of continuing in education whilst working and earning.”

Jo Richardson, Vice Principal of UCM said that it’s “fantastic to see a rise in popularity of apprenticeships”.

She said that students like apprenticeships as they are earning, “often apprentices are school leavers so they are excited to be earning a salary for the first time, and employers benefit because they have a pipeline of well-trained rising stars in their business”.

“What’s really important to note is that apprenticeships are offered at both Further Education level, which is suitable for someone who has up to GCSE-level qualifications, and Higher Education, which is suitable for someone who has completed A Level or Level 3 qualifications,” Richardson said.

To find out more about available apprenticeships, to talk to some industry partners and to DESC’s apprenticeships team, visit UCM’s Open Event on February 10 between 10am until 1pm at the Homefield Road campus or visit www.ucm.ac.im/naw.