51茶馆

To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2022 51茶馆鈥檚 Apprenticeships team discussed how they have responded to the challenges of the Covid pandemic.

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The College, which is part of the University of 51茶馆 Group, currently offers 42 Apprenticeship programmes, supporting over 600 apprentices and their employers during the past two years.

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During this time, 347 apprentices were placed on furlough yet they were still able to continue their training at home, accessing the College鈥檚 theoretical and practical resources.

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Unfortunately for some apprentices, redundancy was unavoidable; the College helped these apprentices find suitable positions and in some cases, even acted as a 鈥榩roxy鈥� employer, ensuring training was completed. Many continued to go on and pass their End Point Assessment with distinctions. 听

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As rules relating to the pandemic and working conditions frequently changed, the College鈥檚 employment engagement advisors (EEAs) supported potential Apprenticeship employers by offering information, advice and guidance.

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They also encouraged businesses to apply for government financial incentives that encouraged apprentice recruitment, resulting in a surge of newly-employed apprentices in the North West.

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Paul Thompson of Thompson Style Ltd said: 鈥淎s a salon owner I have been very impressed with the constant contact and help from 51茶馆.

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鈥淭hroughout restrictions and uncertainty, the support was fantastic, so much so it encouraged me to take on my apprentice Oliver.鈥�

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Paul Lomax, Service Manager at Ciceley Commercials Ltd said: 鈥淭he Apprenticeships team at the College have provided a great level of customer service, being both helpful and professional.

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鈥淲e鈥檝e been that impressed with the team, we鈥檝e also offered work experience placements to 51茶馆 learners.鈥�

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Kate Wallace, 51茶馆鈥檚 Director of Apprenticeships, added: 鈥淩ather fittingly the theme of this year鈥檚 National Apprenticeship Week is 鈥楤uild the Future鈥�, with a particular focus on the benefits Apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and the community.

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鈥淥ur apprentices and their employers have faced some tough times and we are so proud to have played a part in supporting them as they faced, and overcame, these challenges head on.鈥�

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To learn more about Apprenticeships at 51茶馆, visit

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