A win-win situation...

OLDHAM businesses are being urged to jump on board a new campaign to boost the number of apprenticeships in the borough.

The 100 in 100 Apprenticeships project, launched today to mark National Apprenticeship Week, aims to encourage businesses to take on one or more apprentices.

Representatives from the Oldham Apprenticeship Alliance, leading the scheme, met at the Talking Point Conference and Exhibition Centre, Scouthead, for the official launch.

Tony Spencer, Alliance chairman, urged local businesses of all shapes and sizes to add an apprentice to their workforce.

He said: “Traditional apprenticeships have been in areas such as construction and engineering, but there are so many other these days, from IT to media and management.

“A company can have as many apprenticeships as it wants. Over 250 employers in Oldham currently provide apprenticeships to just under 2,000 Oldham residents.

“You can train 16 to 19 year-olds through a structured, fully-funded programme, and you can mould an employee into your business-style.

“It’s a very cost-effective way of adding people to your business.”

Graham McKendrick, from the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “Lots of students are coming out with degrees which aren’t relevant to the workplace, but apprenticeships give you wages, a nationally-recognised qualification and work experience.

“Apprenticeships give a job guarantee for the whole of the training period. At the end that person has the advantage of being in the workplace with a cluster of qualifications. It’s a win-win situation for all involved.”

Oldham Council leader Howard Sykes said: “Some of the best people at Oldham Council have come through via apprenticeships and are now staff. My message to businesses is you will reap the benefits in the future and you’d be mad not to take them on.”

Kath Soliman, from Oldham Training Centre, an independent provider of apprentices, said they constantly receive very positive feedback from employers about their own apprentices.

Proving that the schemes work are former apprentices Jeni Wilkes (25) and Melissa Royales (22), both from Lees, who gained employment with educational consultancy Focus Education after completing their training. Joining them are Adele Buckley (23), from Lees, and Nicola Harrison (19), from Heyside Royton, both former Talking Point apprentices. While Adele has gained employment with the company, Nicola now works for Normanton Catering Technicians in Shaw.

Adele said: “I chose to do an apprenticeship because I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do and it meant I could progress in my career. It’s also a good balance between work and study.”

Melissa said: “A lot of people want to take up apprenticeships so it would help if each business created one.”

To sign up to the 100 in 100 Apprenticeships campaign call the apprenticeship hotline on 0800-032 7288.