WNSC Takes on New Apprentices

Oswestry, United Kingdom, February 26, 2015 --(PR.com)-- With National Apprenticeship Week fast approaching, Walford and North Shropshire College (WNSC) will be putting the spotlight on the Apprentices it supports at the 300 employers across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Mid Wales. There is a huge variety of apprenticeships the College offers in many sectors, the Apprenticeships the College currently offers are; Hospitality and Catering; Customer Service; Business Administration; Gamekeeping; Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle; Animal Care and Management; Equine; Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering.

Interest in Apprenticeships has grown, with people attracted by learning on the job and getting a qualification at the end of the Apprenticeship. Employers large and small are attracted by having their workforce accredited and recognised with a professional qualification, for small businesses, there is the Apprentice Grant for Employers (AGE), which is £1500 grant employers can access via the College for taking on an apprentice for the duration of their study.

WNSC has recently taken on three apprentices of its own, two in Business Administration and one in Customer Service. Bekki Fardoe, one of the Business Administration Apprentices, commented on the benefits of doing an apprenticeship "I am able to gain a new qualification whilst earning and being able to develop within business."

Joe Edwards, the other Business Administration Apprentice, commented on the variety of his role "I have an incredibly varied role, I provide support to the Colleges’ Marketing Manager, writing press releases, and I provide clerical support to the Work-Based Learning Manager, administering learner records."

Richard Barnes, doing a Customer Service Apprenticeship, working within the ICT Support Department in the College, commented on what he enjoys the most about his apprenticeship "I enjoy working with my colleagues in the IT department, they have been passing on their knowledge of IT, which has helped when I have worked on the IT Helpdesk."

Lucy Bowen, Work-Based Learning Manager commented "At WNSC our apprentices are valued members of our team, they support a number of different departments and we encourage them to work in many different areas of the College to up-skill them in a wide range of roles and activities. One of the key benefits of taking on an apprentice is watching them grow into their role; all our apprentices have increased their knowledge and confidence since starting with us. Apprentices add support to existing staff, and now that they are more confident they each have their own areas of responsibility. I would strongly recommend that employers take on apprentices, it's a rewarding experience and I don't know what we would do without our apprentices at WNSC they add so much to our team."

For more information on Apprenticeships at WNSC, please contact Lucy Bowen, Work-Based Learning Manager on 01691 688038 or email l.bowen@wnsc.ac.uk. For other enquiries, please visit www.wnsc.ac.uk or call Reception on 01691 688000.