The 15th annual, week-long celebration of apprenticeships took place this month, between 7th - 13th February 2022, and received significant attention from both learners and businesses alike. Offering hands-on work experience alongside off-the-job training, apprenticeships act as a paid job that can get you started on your career path without needing years of practice. Making the right decision on which apprenticeship to choose can be daunting when there are so many opportunities to pick from, but luckily that’s where Waltham Forest College comes in.

Having celebrated the week by delivering a series of events to support young and adult learners in making informed career decisions involving an apprenticeship, Waltham Forest College are providing a great start for all their students no matter their long-term goals.

With a target to “Build The Future”, over the course of the week the College offered Apprenticeship Q&As, the prospect of Meeting an Employer at one of several events, as well as the chance to see the opportunities within the local borough at one of their Apprenticeship or Job Fairs. All of this helped to spark conversation, open up doorways into new careers and help students decide where they’ll be taking their next steps.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Aston Group and WFC Staff MembersAston Group and WFC Staff Members

Aston Group, a leading building services and facilities management company, delivered an awareness session to some of the College’s aspiring builders and contractors. Rachel Statter, Social Value Manager for Aston Group, said:

“It was very rewarding to see so many Waltham Forest College students attend the Apprentice Awareness sessions today to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. It’s wonderful to promote the benefits of apprenticeships to young people who might not have considered this path a viable option before.

Aston Group believes that it is vital to continue to offer training opportunities to local communities, to develop a pool of talent to recruit from, and encourage social mobility. We are grateful to be given the ability to engage with the students and hope that they found it helpful to speak to our apprentice and mentor to gain insight into the reality of being an apprentice.”

One of the big draws was the Apprenticeship Fair. Here learners were able to discover more about what it means to be an apprentice, discuss their intended career path with potential employers, and even speak with universities about the apprenticeship they have on offer.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Nicola Rovetti, English and maths studentNicola Rovetti, English and maths student

Nicola Rovetti, English and maths student who attended the Apprenticeship Fair said: “Work as well as studying is equally important, and so for me, an apprenticeship offers the opportunity to do both which is great! The Apprenticeship Fair has been insightful and has given me the information required to now explore an apprenticeship in IT.”

Current Apprentice, Charlene Bartolome, also in attendance, said: “My line manager recommended taking up a Health and Social Care NVQ, Level 2 Apprenticeship at Waltham Forest College. So far, it’s been a great experience. The College has impressive facilities, and the teaching staff are extremely supportive. Now I can gain a qualification and improve my employability.”

So what can Waltham Forest College offer you if you’re considering an apprenticeship? With so many courses on offer, you’ll be sure to find something that both sparks your interests and can help you to secure an offer in your chosen career.

The College currently offers apprenticeships in the following areas:

•          Automotive Engineering

•          Bricklaying

•          Business Administration

•          Butchery

•          Carpentry

•          Customer Services

•          Electrical Installation

•          Fashion & Textiles

•          Flooring

•          Food & Beverages Services

•          Hairdressing

•          Health & Social Care

•          Maintenance Operations

•          Management

•          Painting & Decorating

•          Plumbing

•          Professional Cookery

•          Railway Engineering

•          Team Leading

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Employer Session with Waltham Forest College StudentsEmployer Session with Waltham Forest College Students

Building strong ties within the community is another aspect in which Waltham Forest College excels, which was plain to see with the attendance levels at the Apprenticeship Fair. Local service provider, MNM Property Services Ltd, who delivers high quality property maintenance and refurbishment services across London, was one of the employers represented.

HR Coordinator, Loredana Mihai, commented: “Giving a young person a chance to start their career is something we strive for, and so we are delighted to have had this opportunity to speak with potential apprentices about our services and the benefits an apprenticeship can offer.” 

To discover how an apprenticeship can fire up your career or business, contact the College’s Apprenticeship Team via email at  apprenticeships@waltham.ac.uk, or telephone 020 8501 8074. You can also visit the College website for vacancies – www.waltham.ac.uk.