This week Manchester taxi company Cresta Cars has join with employers across the UK as they Job Swap to illustrate the huge power of apprenticeships in up skilling and developing workforces both to their employees and the wider business world.
To mark National Apprenticeship Week leading businesses, which include publisher Trinity Mirror, Southend United Football Club and care provider PSS from Liverpool, are taking part in an initiative, which is being spearheaded by national employment and skills specialist Seetec.
It will see executives and senior managers from some of the UK’s leading companies open up their boardrooms as they swap roles with apprentices within their businesses for a day.
Cresta apprentice Bradley Lawson, will swap jobs with account manager Lauren Carey, in a bid to learn more about the business and show potential candidates how an apprenticeship could work for them.
Bradley, who is currently completing a Level 2 in Business Admin whilst also working within the corporate accounts department in Manchester based Cresta Cars, is going to swap jobs with his manager Lauren who is also studying for the same qualification.
Bradley and Lauren didn’t start as apprentices but having been given the opportunity to learn on the job both recognise they are an important way for the company to support progression across all levels of its workforce.
Lauren comments; “My advice for companies wondering about using apprenticeships is to just go for it. We have found that it has helped to improved our workflow and best practices and that learners’ knowledge grows much quicker within their positions.
Seetec MD John Baumback says; ‘Apprenticeships are still surrounded with a level of stigma and negativity that is holding some employees and employers back from fully embracing them. We have seen first hand that some of the UK’s most successful companies are seeing real benefit from the work they do with us to bring on new talent and develop the staff they already have and help meet their key business objectives along the way.
“This job swap is all about showing anyone considering an alternative route to work that this is a really viable option for them that will result in a successful career with a brilliant company.”
National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from 5 to 9 March, is this year focused on the theme Apprenticeship Works and Seetec’s initiative aims to do the same, as the job swaps look to shine a light on the benefits apprenticeships bring to individuals and employers.
Publisher Trinity Mirror who is also taking part in the initiative, has 41 apprentices currently learning on the job within the organisation and it has a a clear strategy with targets to grow its new starts in 2018 with a focus on leadership and development.
The business will be offering one of its regional sales apprentices the chance to swap jobs with a member of the commercial team based at its HQ in Canary Wharf.
Kirsty Lynch, Head of HR Media Scotland & Mirror Media/Group Learning & Development Lead, said; “We already have a number of cohorts taking level 5 management and leadership qualifications and a recently launched level 3 with Seetec. What’s more we see apprenticeships as integral to our business strategy as we look to grow revenue by increasing focus on digital as print revenues decrease. We are looking to develop digital and harness apprenticeships to support and develop our existing and new talent.
“With this in mind we are utilising panel sessions, hangouts and the job swap across National Apprenticeship Week to communicate to our internal teams just how apprenticeships could work for them. We want as many people as possible to buy into this strategy as much as the other high profile initiatives that are happening across the business.”
Essex based Seetec will also be taking part itself as Managing Director John Baumback will swap jobs with recruitment consultant apprentice Laura Turner, 26.
John joined the organisation as a 16-year-old apprentice and has worked his way up to running the multi-million pound business, which now employs 1,200 staff and Laura helps employment and skills organisation Seetec to recruit apprentices, and works with employers to match them to available opportunities. They will take on each other’s jobs for one day so that Laura can gain a vital insight into management roles within the business.
The 11th National Apprenticeship Week runs from 5 to 9 March, showcasing how apprenticeships work for individuals, employers, communities and for the wider economy. Follow the campaign on social media using #NAW18 and #jobswap.
