Join the 200 in 100 Apprenticeship Challenge with the Birmingham Post

By Alun Thorne

What a difference a year makes.

It was just 12 months ago that the Birmingham Post launched its first 100 for 100 campaign with us wondering whether businesses in the West Midlands would respond to the call to arms and consider taking on apprentices.

We needn’t have worried. Our campaign alone saw more than 130 businesses sign up to take on more than 500 apprentices while in total the West Midlands saw the number of people starting apprenticeships rise from 31,720 in 2010 to 54,290 in 2011 – an increase of 71 per cent.

This year we are going one step further and want 200 businesses signed up to the campaign in 100 days.

To find out more about the National Apprenticeship Service call 08000 150600 or visit the website here.

Apprenticeships

The National Apprenticeship Service

Online supplement

Apprenticeship Challenge: The 200 in 100 campaign

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The West Midlands branch of RICS has welcomed new government measures to protect the public from incompetent cowboy builders.Read

Discover first hand how you can benefit from an apprenticeship May 18 2012

Bournville College will be holding an apprenticeship event on Tuesday, May 29, to help employers create opportunities for engaging with the training scheme.Read

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At the age of 17 David Olden was unsure of his next steps for his future and his career, but only a few years on he is doing an apprenticeship and has proved he is on the ladder to success after coming first in the painting and decorating category of the West Midlands regional heat of SkillBuild – the UK’s largest multi-trade competition.Read

Apprentices 'loaned out' to help improve their skill set May 18 2012

Efforts to develop the next generation of engineers have been given a major boost thanks to an innovative programme developed by a Birmingham manufacturer.Read

Helping to choose best May 18 2012

A CITY organisation has reaped the benefits of r embracing apprenticeships in the workplace. Based in Erdington, The Construction Training Centre was started by friends Mark Webber and Peter Carey in 2009. Very soon they recognised the lack of young people entering the industry, along with record highs in youth unemployment and the growing skills gap developing as a result of this.Read

Three-way partnership helps 225 young people in a year May 18 2012

THE FIRST year of a training partnership between Birmingham Metropolitan College, Caterpillar UK Ltd and Sigma has been a resounding success with 225 apprentices working at the construction equipment manufacturer’s plant in Desford, Leicestershire. Recruitment is now underway for an additional 200 apprentices to take on roles as Assembly Technicians and Logistics Operatives as part of Caterpillar’s assembly facility.Read

The ambition to deliver skills for a bright future May 18 2012

Apprenticeships are the best way for local young people to learn a trade which will stand by them throughout their career.Read

Your chance to be one of the top 100 apprentice firms May 18 2012

The search is under way to find England’s best Apprenticeship employers worthy of joining the prestigious Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list.Read

James Foster in the swing for a solid career May 18 2012

Heart of England Training is supporting Pype Hayes Golf Club, in Sutton Coldfield, with their employee training. The club’s professional, James Foster, has enrolled on a Business Administration apprenticeship.Read

Aston Uni Academy's 'passion for learning' May 18 2012

Aston University Engineering Academy (AUEA) opens in September, 2012. It is a new type of school in a brand new building, with an intake of 120 Year 10 and 60 Year 12 students of mixed ability from across Birmingham. It is sponsored by Aston University.Read

South Birmingham College 'goes the extra mile' May 18 2012

SOUTH Birmingham College helps businesses build a future. It has become the go-to place for many local and regional businesses when they start thinking about recruiting an apprentice to their organisation. From small local businesses to household names such as National Express, Specsavers and Kier Group, South Birmingham College has been able to provide the advice and support needed.Read

Apprenticeships can work, do work May 18 2012

During National Apprenticeship Week, the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with the Birmingham Post, Birmingham Mail and Coventry Telegraph, supported by a network of West Midland private training providers, colleges and employers, launched the 200 in 100 Challenge, to make a difference to the lives of people and businesses in the West Midlands area.Read

Headway commits to invest in people with great potential May 18 2012

Headway West Midlands is a charity supporting people affected by brain injury and is working in conjunction with Bournville College to offer two apprenticeship vacancies in business administration and health and social care in the charity’s branch in Rubery.Read

Why 'earn while you learn' was perfect for Sheridan Donovan May 18 2012

Sheridan Donavan was unsure of what to do when she left school and, attracted to Henley College Coventry’s “earn while you learn” apprenticeship programme, she decided to do a Business Administration apprenticeship. Sheriden works at Specsavers in Coventry and says she couldn’t have done it without the support she received from the college.Read

The perfect work solution for Hope May 18 2012

Apprenticeships are proven to make a workforce more effective, productive and competitive and are a great way to fill a skills gap and so it’s natural they appeal to employers.Read

Youngsters get chance to shine May 18 2012

NATIONAL training provider Remit has been a strong supporter of the Birmingham Post’s 200 in 100 campaign.Read

Having designs on future success May 18 2012

With Graphic Design now at the forefront of a fast-changing technological environment, Solihull College is encouraging employers to invest in training apprentices so that a future talent pool of designers can be created.Read

181 companies sign up to give youth a chance May 18 2012

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Against a backdrop of rising youth unemployment and a double dip recession, the Birmingham Post and its sister papers the Birmingham Mail and the Coventry Telegraph were set a challenge of signing up 200 businesses in just 100 days to create new apprentice positions in the West Midlands – and we very nearly made it.Read

Working out a career as fitness instructor May 11 2012

During his first week as an apprentice, George Kimberley found that his appetite increased and he was eating more food than usual, something that makes sense in light of him spending a lot more time in the gym. As an apprentice exercise and fitness instructor at Birmingham Metropolitan College, the 17-year-old has been working in the campus gyms for the past six weeks and as a result has boosted his fitness and energy levels.Read

Bournville College and Accord offer apprenticeships in housing sector May 11 2012

Bournville College has recently worked in partnership with the Accord Group to offer the apprenticeship in Housing. As one of only a handful of training providers offering the course in the West Midlands, the Accord Group have been very impressed with the level of support given throughout by Bournville College.Read