Here is our Network Meeting schedule for 2024:
February 20th, 10am – 1am
June 11th, 10am – 1am
October 8th, 10am – 1am
Here is our Network Meeting schedule for 2024:
February 20th, 10am – 1am
June 11th, 10am – 1am
October 8th, 10am – 1am
Secure your students’ free spot at Surrey County Council’s ‘Surrey Festival of Skills’—a careers event that empowers, enlightens, guides and enriches. Brought to you in partnership with Surrey County Council, and Association of Learning Providers Surrey (ALPS), the event at Sandown Park Racecourse on Thursday 23 November 2023 will provide an interactive and informative event for young people in Year 10 and upwards. An opportunity to engage face-to-face with employers and education and training providers, from a variety of industry sectors, in one location.
This free event will support achievement of your Gatsby Benchmark outcomes effectively with so much available in one location, ensuring young people benefit from being better informed about transition and career choices with an understanding of the labour market, and are inspired about the future. Be the bridge to their future.
Register at: www.surreyfestivalofskills.co.uk and apply for up to £500 bursary per education institute (based on eligibility criteria) to assist with transport costs. Register now, spaces are limited.
Angela Richardson, the Member of Parliament representing Guildford, assumed the role of the featured speaker at the 8th annual Surrey Apprentices Graduation Ceremony, which took place at Guildford Cathedral this year.
This event, conducted in collaboration with The Association of Learning Providers Surrey (ALPS), was a joyous occasion that marked the graduation of 100 apprentices, alongside the participation of learning providers, employers, and parents. The day was filled with festivities and enjoyment, and it has become customary for attendees to arrive early, don their academic gowns, take professional photographs, and have the opportunity to meet some of the event’s speakers.
This occasion also serves as a valuable platform for engaging with the local MP and key stakeholders. It was particularly relevant given our members’ concerns regarding the minimum wage for apprenticeships, which often discourages individuals from pursuing apprenticeship opportunities.
The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has announced that the Department for Education has approved its Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).
The report provides an updated review of the economic and skills landscape and identifies key priorities that all stakeholders can contribute to, to achieve real change and a positive impact moving forward.
🔗 Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/eTh62xVT
The Surrey Chambers of Commerce Local Skills Improvement Plan has been approved by the Secretary of State in line with the approval criteria set out in the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, and in accordance with the LSIP statutory guidance.
Here is the link to download the report: https://lnkd.in/e3vDdg8g
This meeting was our Safeguarding Group, Mike Driscoll shares it and you could put something like “providers sharing good practice during an ALPS/ALPHI Safeguarding sub-group for members only.”
Please contact sue@alpsurrey if you would like to participate in future meetings.
During my time at George Abbot sixth form I took 4 A-Levels: Mathematics, Engineering, IT and Geography, whilst also doing lots of extra curricular activities. Throughout that time I had always thought University wasn’t for me and had started looking into apprenticeships, however didn’t fully understand how the process to get an apprenticeship worked or what the different levels were like. This was the case until I went to a session with Sue Taylor that George Abbot had set up for sixth form students, where I then understood all the different levels of apprenticeships and how and where to apply to them via the gov.uk website for apprenticeships. I have now since applied to 25+ higher and degree apprenticeships and got three offers to which I have accepted a degree apprenticeship in Digital and Technology solutions with Accenture. The main take away from applying to all these apprenticeships is that the whole application process takes longer than you think, which is why having a cover and CV that can be changed easily for each role can really help, and yes I intend to come back next year.
Apprentices and Teachers to have completed from September 2022 to August 2023. Spaces will be limited, with one guest per person. Bookings will open in May 2023.
We are delighted to share NFER’s new research report ‘Barriers to young people accessing intermediate and advanced apprenticeships: perspectives from apprenticeship providers’
This report is based on insights gained from a roundtable NFER hosted with groups who offer apprenticeship opportunities.
It highlights that increasing the affordability of apprenticeships could be a ‘game changer’ in increasing young people’s interest in apprenticeships.
Surrey Chambers, along with FSB and ALPS Alphi are holding an Employer Breakfast in Guildford on 10th February 2023 specifically focused on Apprenticeships
Email LSIP@surrey-chambers.co.uk to register
Network Manager, Sue Taylor along with Gary Hudson from I Choose Local met last week with Chancellor Of The Exchequer and Member of Parliament for Waverley, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP. Discussions included the potential for a Trainee’s bursary as a pre-apprenticeship programme and the value of Apprenticeships for school leavers at 16 as an alternative to full-time Further Education.
Click the link below to view/download the Slidedeck summarising Enterprise M3’s Local Skills Report and Action Plan
Follow the link below to view/download the latest Higher & Degree Level Apprenticeship Vacancy Listings for 2022-23
Following ALPS and Alphi joining forces, we are delighted to launch our new logo. This replaces the temporary ‘composite’ logo used over the past few weeks.
Please note that until online content has been fully updated and migrated across all platforms, the new artwork may not appear on some content for a few days.
We’re thrilled to announce that Surrey County Council is hosting the Surrey Skills Summit, and you’re invited.
The summit will take place on 10th November at Sandown Racecourse and has been designed to ensure that Surrey’s skills system continues to power the economic success of the county. The event will also launch the Surrey Skills Plan, providing attendees with the opportunity to explore key recommendations and actions together and focus on how the plan can benefit the local community and enhance Surrey’s skills system.
After many years of working very closely with ALPHI, our sister network for Hampshire and The Isle of Wight, we are delighted to announce that ALPS is joining forces with ALPHI to form one network that will cover Surrey, HAmpshire and The Isle of Wight. All Hampshire/IOW members are now members of ALPS/ALPHI (as we will continue to call it for now). Our first joint network meeting since the joint nevture is on Tuesday 27th September at The Hogs Back Hotel, Nr Farnham. We look forward to welcoming our new Hampshire and IOW colleagues.
After two years of delay through Covid, on 16th September we were back at Guildford Cathedral for our sixth Graduation Ceremony – and for the third year we partnered with GLF Schools to recognise the achievements of their newly qualified teachers alongside those of Surrey’s apprentices.
Over 150 graduates celebrated their awards in front of proud families, friends, employers and training providers, and a number of guest speakers including employers and apprentices themselves shared their experiences and journeys with the packed ‘congregation’.
The weather held out for us and as usual, the cathedral was a magnificent setting for this event. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it a huge success – and congratulations again to all the graduates!
Click Here to view and download more photos
Photography by Paul Wilson
p-wilson.com/photo
Along with the whole nation, we are deeply saddened by the news of the pasing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. For over 70 years she selflessly carried out her duties in representing the United Kingdom throughout the world and we join the whole country in sending our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family. ALPS & Alphi will, of course, follow government guidance as it emerges regarding the period of national mourning. We will remain on hand to support members with anything they need, so please do continue to get in touch. The Department for Education has advised that schools and FE settings should remain open during the period of national mourning. Any requests for leave of absence should be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account individual circumstances. The Department will be contacting sector leaders with further advice once details of the funeral are confirmed by the Royal Household. Guidance providing the public, businesses and institutions with advice on the period of national mourning will soon be issued by the Cabinet Office and available on GOV.UK. |
The Department for Education has published the outcomes of:
The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) Expressions of interest, confirming our area (EM3 + East Surrey) as designated from Monday 5 September:
The Strategic Development Fund (SDF) funding awards, confirming the funding for our eight delivery partner colleges:
The Apprenticeship & Skills Partnership offers free and impartial advice to organisations of any size and individuals regarding apprenticeship and skills training. The Apprenticeship & Skills Hubs cover Hampshire (including the Solent Region) and Surrey.
The Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network (ADCN) champions apprenticeships and diversity amongst employers. It works to encourage more people from underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities, women and members of the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities to consider apprenticeships.
Lia Nici MP, has been appointed as Chair of the network, and is responsible for setting and shaping the network’s objective, working alongside the National Apprenticeship Service.
The report includes case studies of excellent practice in diversity and inclusion. Including real life examples of what businesses have done to achieve greater diversity and inclusion in apprenticeships.
To read the full report and see which employers are involved in the network, please click here
It was a pleasure to be invited to the Fedcap opening in Staines on Friday with the launch of the Restart programme for the area. The Restart Scheme is part of the government’s Plan for Jobs to help find jobs in the local area. Also, great to see Marcus Headington who is now the Operations Manager for the programme. Marcus will be attending the next ALPS meeting to explain the work which is already happening and the future work with Fedcap.
It was lovely to be invited to the opening of the Spelthorne Youth Hub on Friday evening hosted at Guy Salmon. ALPS have been involved in the project with Spelthorne Borough Council and we have also been involved with the set up of “I Choose Local”, a new website giving information to businesses, young people and parents on how to find skills in the area.
The keynote speech was made by Kwarsi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and MP for Spelthorne. The event was hosted by students who have already been supported by the hub in many different ways, including confidence building and job searches.
Sue attended the parliamentary reception on the 22/2/22 hosted by AELP and sponsored by Learning Curve Group, this research had involved ALPS members and I was pleased to be at the event with Jackie from Professional Training Solutions.
It was great to hear how Independent Training Providers (ITPs) contribute to the Skills System in delivering not only Apprenticeships but other fantastic programmes such as T Levels, Boot Camps and Study Programmes. The research is a call for action for ministers to see the massive contribution ITPs make to the sector and they should not be seen as a fill-in where other provision is not available. There were speeches from Lord Aberdore, Martin Dunford (AELP), Steve Morris (Learning Curve Group) and Paul Warner (AELP) who shared the research in more detail.
The seven recommendations are:
Click Here to read the full report
Click here to view an update for parents, carers and guardians from The Skills Minister regarding Apprenticeships
ALPS works very closely with schools and colleges each week, delivering a range of Apprenticeship support activities under the ASK Programme. Last week we visited:
Graduation 2022
Planning is well and truly underway for this year’s Apprenticeship Graduation on Friday 16th September. An initial planning visit to Guildford Cathedral has taken place, the gowning and photography company has been booked and save the date/invitation designs are being developed. It is likely that for 2022 we will have 400 attendees being able to graduate and they will be limited to one guest each.
Surrey Skills Leadership Forum
The Surrey Skills Leadership Forum (SSLF), is a strategic leadership body which sets the vision and supports the development of a demand-led, inclusive Surrey skills system. ALPS Network Manager, Sue Taylor is Chair of the Provider Group.
ALPS out and about again!
It was so good to be back out with the Apprenticeship Hub on Friday at the major employer event held at Guildford’s prestigious Harbour Hotel. The event was sponsored by the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, The Hub, Federation of Small Business and ALPS. The event was attended by 100 delegate and there were interesting speakers from Nikki Morgan of the NHS and Angela Richardson, MP for Guildford.
The Hub reported that many employer leads were picked up and the team will be working through these to ensure that employers are matched to providers and the vacancies are filled as soon as possible.
This was the first event for ALPS in eighteen months, and lovely to see so many faces again – providers, employers, apprentices, partners and more!
Sue Taylor, Network Manager
Images by Paul Wilson Photography