Bringing together business, education and students

Train for a brighter future

“How can we get out of this mess?” asked a recent issue of Time magazine. When a recession hits, our instincts lead us to cut costs wherever we can. However, training should not fall victim to the current economic downturn – after all, businesses who fail to invest in their staff during tough times are two and half times more likely to fail than those who do.

Instead, the focus for both organisations and individuals should be on putting the necessary skills in place for whatever is around the corner.

The apprenticeship route offers a holistic solution to individual training by combining NVQ qualifications with key skills, a technical certificate and on the job experience, usually in partnership with a specialist provider. This means apprentices will gain transferable skills as well as those relevant to their current role.

These days, anyone aged between 16 and 65 can join an apprenticeship programme, with schemes for those aged 16 to 18 attracting full funding from the government. Benefits to organisations are huge – as well as being cost effective and a useful aid to recruitment, apprentices can bring new ideas and help to improve staff retention rates.

To support the Government’s vision to achieve ‘world-class apprenticeships’ and to help unlock talent and to build skills for all, a new National Apprenticeship Service was launched in April 2009. Visitors to www.apprenticeships.org.uk will not only be able to find out more about apprenticeships, but also post employer vacancies and apprenticeship applications as part of a matching facility.

On a local scale, the LSC has contracted with FE Sussex and the Sussex Council of Training Providers to help develop the apprenticeship offer and deliver provision, with both private employers and public sector organisations, alongside the training providers themselves, aiming to bring about a step-change in apprenticeship numbers and the range of apprenticeships available. Sussex Downs College is one such provider who is adding to its portfolio as a response to employer demand.

To help with this development programme, Tim Sorensen, a familiar name in education business partnership circles, has joined the team as Apprenticeship Champion for Sussex. Tim is keen to talk to employers, either individually or via existing networks, to help get those essential skills into the toolbox. Tim may be contacted on either 07890 388624 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

To find out more about the wide range of apprenticeship opportunities offered through Sussex Downs College, call 01323 637391 or visit www.apprenticeships-in-sussex.com for details of providers across Sussex.