It is important not to relay a message that university is the only real aspiration. There is a danger, however, that local job markets might not be able to provide the apprenticeships that students want to pursue. Teenagers may be forced into travelling unreasonable distances. So what is the current picture within N. Ireland?
Two of the province's biggest companies, BT and NIE do offer exciting opportunities for young appentices but competition is keen.. BT currently has 12 apprentices in the province and 10 or 11 who have recently completed their time. They train in speciality areas including customer services, information technology, vehicle technology and telecommunications. BT provides an opportunity for its apprentices to gain qualifications such as NVQs or BTECs, while the training also helps them gain key social skills needed to work as part of a team.
Some of the apprentices can turn out to be BT's best employees and, like Peter Cunningham, BT Ireland's chief engineer who joined the company as a trainee technician apprentice in 1969, will go on to become senior managers! Apprentices are the lifeblood of any company and though we are currently in a tough economic climate BT remains committed to bringing in young people to the company.
Another of the province's biggest companies, NI Electricity, provides opportunities for apprentices. In many ways knowing a company at an operational level as an apprentice will do, can have decided advantages as one progresses to management. Despite difficult times NIE remains committed to its apprenticeship programme with 35 apprentices currently training. It hopes to advertise for its next intake in February 2010. Here the apprenticeship programme has been shortened from four years to threee and the company has just brought in a fast track two year course for applicants who have worked elsewhere. A tailored BTEC qualification in electrical engineering and NVQs form part of the apprenticeship. The NIE training centre uses skilled employees as trainers. The specialisation in the electricity sector makes apprenticeships vital. NIE only take on apprentices that they can offer jobs to provided they pass their training.
Nearly 3,000 young people have enrolled in a new apprenticeship programme since the beginning of September. The Programme-Led Apprenticeship scheme was introduced by employment minister, Sir Reg Empey, after a fall in the number of employers willing to take on apprentices in the present tough economic climate. The college - based apprentices spend more time with the training organisation but still have the opportunity of a work placement one day per week or a six week block. The minister pointed out that the numbers enrolling on the programme showed a clear need and demand for this training. Young school leavers will train to the same standard, following the exact same framework as employed apprentices. Should they get employment at any stage during their training they will seamlessly transfer to the other programme. The Programme-Led campaign, whilst commendable in concept, is not a panacea for current unemployment. The Programme can not replace the need for places in industry, otherwise you just get a bottleneck of disappointed people who can't get a job.
Backing Young Britain is a national campaign currently afoot and supported by many prominent UK business leaders urging employers to invest in young people. In September, the number of people here in NI claiming unemployment increased by 1100 raising the total numbers looking for work to over 53,000! A large percentage of the growing number of local people on the dole are in the vulnerable 16 to 24 age bracket raising fears about the long term impact of the recession on 'a lost generation' of the province's workforce.
With all age apprenticeship now available there is growing evidence that the common perception of apprenticeships as a career path for school drop-outs may be shifting. Young graduates desperate to learn new skills and to find a job, see apprenticeships as far more useful than exams.Nearly a quarter of recent graduateshave already taken the step of topping up their degree with a vocational qualification, according to research by independent education foundation Edge. Is this because our current system is failing to provide the skills and training that graduates need and employers so desperately want? A degree often fails to differentiate graduates in the job market. If graduates want to progress they need more - vocational qualifications perhaps! Anything an individual can do to enhance their skills will increase their value in the job market. Vocational qualifications help people stand out and provide support to an individual's career in the long term.
What pressure this then on the 16/17 year old school leaver already competing for limited opportunities! Perhaps here's an opportunity for some form of debate on the costs involved in choosing to follow an apprenticeship route to work as compared to undergraduate studies. Other ideas on this subject of apprenticeships might include
- As careers teacher do you have posted up ALL the companies in NI ('Belfast Telegraph's 100 Top Companies might provide a good starting point) who currently offer apprenticeship and the date(s) when they recruit? Perhaps you could start with NIE in February 2010.
- Unfortunately we do not have 'a loca/province wide prospectus' of companies offering apprenticeships similar to that of the FE and HE colleges offering their courses, so it's left to you and your careers adviser (DEL) to decide how you could compile such a 'prospectus' for young people in your school or Area Learning Community (ALC).
- Do you have notice-board space to advertise apprenticeship vacancies from local/provincial/national newspapers?
- Have you had any recent past pupils who have completed apprenticeships back in to talk to KS3/4 and Post 16 students?
- How do you celebrate success in apprenticeship training? In the same way as we do university graduates?
No comments:
Post a Comment