National Apprenticeship Week – raising the standard

Apprenticeships can be a wonderful route into employment and provide the opportunity for people to earn while they learn. And with the new government policy designed to encourage apprenticeships, there should be a lot more of them in the next few years. UNISON champions and protects thousands of public service apprentices and has been vocal about our concern that the government’s rushed approach could create a ‘wild west’ atmosphere and leave young workers vulnerable to unscrupulous employers. However, the union has also been clear that it supports high-quality apprenticeships and actively endorses employers that sign up to its Apprenticeship Charter standards. So, with the spotlight on apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week (5-9 March) , it’s a good time to talk to some apprentices and find out what UNISON is doing to support them.   The Apprenticeship Network At the Borough of Poole council, an innovative network is providing support and training for apprentices. And with a joint approach from UNISON and the employer HR team, it is now being run by apprentices, for apprentices. Peter Stratford (pictured top with apprentices Nick Hillman and Freya Kendall) was a union learning rep and the young members’ officer at Poole. At a UNISON learning conference, he tells a packed audience that he started as an apprenticeship sceptic: “It made me think of poor Bert White, the exploited apprentice in The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist.” But he also recogni...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article apprentices apprenticeship charter Apprenticeship Levy apprenticeships education services local government National Apprenticeship Week young members Source Type: news