More than 200 apprentices hired in Shropshire after successful campaign

A campaign to recruit more apprentices in Shropshire has been declared a massive success after it more than doubled its target.

Shropshire Council joined the national Apprenticeship 100 in 100 campaign, which aimed to find placements for 100 apprentices in 100 days.

And delighted organisers have now revealed that 205 placements were successful in Shropshire.

Grants are available for businesses who take on an apprentice, and many employers are unaware of the incentives on offer, according to the National Apprenticeship Service which ran the campaign.

A launch event was held in January 2012, and since then more than 200 apprentices have been taken on by businesses in Shropshire.

One business to get involved with the campaign was Shrewsbury-based Zen Communications.  Felicity Wingrove, the company’s founder and director, said the introduction of an apprentice has had major benefits for the business and the apprentice herself.

Felicity said:

“Our new apprentice Jennie is enthusiastic, passionate and really hard working.  She’s supported our PR team across the board with administrative duties, and is helping to further strengthen some of our systems.  Because she’s freed us from some of the day-to-day tasks we’d previously had to assume, we’re able to take on more fee-earning work and we’ve already seen a positive growth in agency income.  Jennie is working on her NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration with County Training and we then hope to build a case for her to access a Certificate and then Diploma in PR through our chartered institute.”

Councillor Karen Burgoyne, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member for post-16 education, added:

“We are absolutely delighted that we have managed to find successful placements for so many apprentices.  The whole aim of this campaign was to demonstrate to businesses the benefits of taking on apprentices, and I think we managed to achieve that.  As well as being beneficial to businesses, the apprenticeship programme gives people a great opportunity to get started on their career path.”

Any businesses interested in taking on an apprentice can contact the National Apprenticeships Service on 08000 150 600 or via the website at www.apprenticeships.org.uk