Category: Employers

MIT’s new AM2 Electrical Testing Centre in West Byfleet is now fully operational and open for business

Please contact MIT Skills direct for bookings or any other enquiries – 01932 341 416

ALPS has been presented with an award by The Careers & Enterprise Company at an event attended by our Chair, John Osborne last week. The award is ‘Careers Provider Recognition of Excellence’, which recognises a wide range of activity including our work in schools and colleges.

Further to previous post, here’s some video of Apprentices Louis James and Debbie Manley from Invotra wowing everyone at the Institute of Directors a few days ago!

We went to Gordons School in Lightwater near Woking last week to deliver a presentation on Apprenticeships to Year 11 students.

So many more young people are now seeing Apprenticeships as a realistic option for progression after school or 6th Form/College.

We took the ASK Project to St Andrews School in Leatherhead earlier this week. We were asked by the school to support the new Careers Lead with an update to her Apprenticeship knowledge and help to plan support activities for the students over the academic year.

We provided the latest Apprenticeship Guide and it was great to see the posters the school is using around the Learning Skills Centre.

ALPS visited Woking Sixth Form College on 23rd September to talk to over 100 Year 13 Students about Apprenticeships as a Progression Option. A number of students were interested in the opportunities that Degree and Higher Apprenticeships could offer as an alternative to full-time University.

We will going back later in the Academic Year to talk to Year 12 students and to take part in events for students and parents.

ALPS attended Reigate College yesterday to give apprenticeship information to Year 13s who had decided that University wasn’t the route they wished to take.  We spoke to 190 students and had the opportunity to share the new vacancy listing for Degree and Higher Apprenticeships. We also provided a new copy of the Apprenticeship Guide.

ALPS will be returning to the college next year to talk to Year 12 parents as well as to run Apprenticeship application and registration workshops.

ALPS is really excited to launch the new website and this should be a better resource for providers, schools, employers and learners.  The idea is for providers to keep their information up to date to ensure employers and learners can access the provision across Surrey.

On Friday 27^th September the Association of Learning Providers (ALPS) ran the 5^th graduation for Surrey Apprentices and Teachers, which was held at Guildford Cathedral.

ALPS joined up with GLF Schools,  a large Surrey-based Multi Academy Trust which was founded in 2012.  GLF Schools runs a trainee teacher programme and it was a pleasure to team up with them to celebrate the success of 35 qualifying teachers.

Providers across the Surrey network celebrated the success of over 100 apprentices who came from 40 employers across the area.  Apprentices had studied over many different sector areas and had qualified across all levels.

The event was sponsored by Surrey County Council, The Federation of Small Business, The local apprenticeship Ambassador Network and NCFE.  Anne Milton, the former Skills Minister was the keynote speaker, with further speakers from The FSB, NHS, and Surrey County Council’s Deputy Chairman, Colin Kemp.

Sue Taylor (network manager ALPS) said “It was fantastic to celebrate the success of apprentices at a graduation where the apprentices could wear gowns and they could celebrate their success with their family and employers”. Alison Galvin, Financial Direct from Invotra who had 5 employees graduating remarked “ It was amazing to see the hard work of her team being rewarded at such a special event”. Invotra were regional winners of the SME National Apprenticeship Awards and will be going forward to the National Awards.

ALPS will be looking forward to working on the 2020 graduation.

Over 50 employers and all of the Mayors from the Surrey Borough and Districts attended a lunch hosted by The Federation of Small Businesses at the Apprentice Graduation event on the 27th September at Guildford Cathedral. Anne Milton, former skills minster mingled with the delegates, spoke positively about apprenticeships and looked forward to celebrating their success at the celebration. The event was held in the cathedral balcony overlooking the beautiful surroundings which was set up for the event.

Coast to Capital has launched a consultation on the economic profile of the area which is the biggest piece of research undertaken to date into the economy and the area’s potential.

This analysis will inform Coast to Capital’s Local Industrial Strategy which will be negotiated with government early next year and, when published, will prioritise intervention and investment in the local area. This is in addition to the £300 million that Coast to Capital has already invested into a wide range of projects to regenerate our towns and cities.

It is vital that the economic profile accurately reflects the diverse nature of the Coast to Capital economy and can demonstrate to Government the area’s strengths and opportunities for economic growth. It is informed by updated data sets and five specific research studies on urban centres; skills and the labour market; commercial property; innovation ecosystems and digital connectivity.

Read more about the consultation.

It was great to attend the regional apprenticeship awards lunch in Guildford yesterday. It is always great to celebrate the success of apprentices and employers in the region especially as ALPS have been involved in the awards process with NAS for a number of years.

I am delighted to announce that INVOTRA, our employer member won the Small Employer Award, last year they were runners up, but I know Invotra wanted the winners trophy for their cabinet!! I have been lucky to visit Invotra over the last couple of years where I can truly say apprenticeship are embedded throughout their organisation with learners engaging on a journey from all levels and across a number of frameworks. It is a great accolade to achieve and I am sure we would all like to wish them the best of luck going forward to the National Panel. We will be seeing many of their learners at the graduation which is only two weeks away!

WELL DONE!!

ALPS will be delivering the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge into schools again this year, we have been delivering this project for three years and for the next three will be working with a new prime contractor, Kent CXK who receive their funding from the Department of Education.

The project offers interactive activities for students to enable them to access and apply for apprenticeships.  ALPS can offer many varied activities for schools so please get in touch, early bookings are recommended to ensure our availability.  The Amazing apprenticeship website has some fantastic resources for schools to use https://amazingapprenticeships.com/
 

It is not long now until the gradation at Guildford Cathedral on the 27th September.  ALPS are pleased to be joined once again by GLF schools who will be proud supporters of the teachers they have trained this year.  The event has been kindly sponsored by The Federation of Small Business, The Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, Surrey County Council and NCFE.  Thank you sponsors, without your support this very worthwhile event would not take place.  We are finalising the brochure this week and it looks like we have over 100 apprentices graduation for 2019!