New College Celebrate National Apprenticeship Week

This week New College Swindon are celebrating the success that apprenticeships bring to students, alumni and employers.

New College currently offer apprenticeship options across three levels and sixteen subject areas, from Accounting and IT to Childcare and Laboratory Technician. The college work with a variety of employers including The National Trust, Imagine Cruising and The White Horse Federation. The wide range of options provide apprentices with the opportunity to earn while they learn and progress through further study or promotion to a full-time role.

This year, three new apprenticeships in Computing have been introduced at New College, including Infrastructure Technicians, Software Development and Digital Marketing.

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, New College are running a number of events for the local community. These include a school leaver information evening and a seminar for employers, highlighting the value apprenticeships bring to both learners and the workplace.

Laura Rossi, a current Business and Administration Apprentice is currently working towards a Level 3 qualification. She said: "I chose to do an apprenticeship because I wanted a change of career and didn’t have the qualifications or experience to do so. The job is very varied, which provides me with new skills and challenges. I am looking to pursue a career in marketing and this apprenticeship has helped me get a foot in the door in a competitive industry. My time at New College has been very rewarding and I have had lots of guidance and support to aid me with my personal development.”

Colleges across the country are celebrating apprenticeships this week, David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said: "Apprenticeships are vital in building the skills and experience of our workforce and future workforce, especially post-Brexit. Colleges like New College Swindon play a key part in doing this.”