Oxfordshire Apprenticeships will launch a new Apprenticeship Ambassador Scheme this Spring, in time for National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from 9th – 13thMarch.
Oxfordshire Apprenticeships is an Oxfordshire County Council-led partnership, funded by the Oxfordshire City Deal, whose aim is to make sense of Apprenticeships for local businesses and individuals. They raise awareness of Apprenticeships through a number of events and initiatives across the county and support schools with providing information, advice and guidance to students about Apprenticeships. They also advise and support employers who are interested in employing an Apprentice.
The Apprenticeship Ambassador Scheme will see current and former Apprentices from a number of organisations supporting the work of Oxfordshire Apprenticeships by volunteering to help young people and their families and employers to understand the benefits of Apprenticeships. They’ll do this by attending events such as careers fairs, school assemblies and employer briefings to tell their stories and share what they’ve learned, giving people the opportunity to hear real life success stories first-hand, ask questions and talk openly about what it’s like to be an Apprentice.
The Apprenticeship Ambassadors will benefit from the chance to develop their presentation and networking skills, as well as representing their employer and raising awareness of opportunities available locally.
Lilly Dodd, former student at Larkmead School and Business Admin Apprentice at Oxfordshire County Council is one of the first Apprenticeship Ambassadors. She has accompanied Oxfordshire Apprenticeships to two assemblies at her former school to talk to students in Year 11 and the Sixth Form about her experiences as an Apprentice. Lilly says: “It was really good going back to school and talking to former pupils. I think it helped that I previously attended Larkmead as I could relate to the students. I think it is so important that schools get people in to talk about Apprenticeships, as it gives the young people another choice and helps them feel more in control of their future, which when going through the stress of exams can be really comforting that there is more than the option of college or sixth form. Just having the knowledge of where to look for current vacancies and knowing there is support out there can give people confidence to take the opportunity of an Apprenticeship.”
Claire Christiansen, Careers & Vocational Education Coordinator at Larkmead School in Abingdon recognises the importance of students hearing about Apprenticeships from young people who have chosen to do an Apprenticeship themselves. She says: “Having an Apprenticeship Ambassador come into Larkmead has been great, students can hear what it’s like to go through an Apprenticeship programme and gain the information and resources they need to look and find an Apprenticeship for themselves. Having Lilly come in has been fantastic, students can relate to ex-students more and the journey that they have been through.”
To find out more, visit www.oxfordshireapprenticeships.co.uk, follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OxonApprentice or like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/OxfordshireApprenticeships.