Apprenticeships

Progress South Central developed an action plan of activity designed to support progression for Apprentices to HE.

Progress South Central is an Apprentice employer!

Emma Mason joined the Progress South Central team in July 2010 as Administrative Assistant and immediately commenced work for her NVQ and Technical Certificate, administered by the West Berkshire Training Consortium. Her employment and success has been celebrated by the National Apprenticeship Service with the award to the LLN of an Apprenticeship Employer Certificate, which recognises employers for their commitment and support to Apprenticeships. Emma's employment underlines the commitment to support opportunities and progression for Apprentices.

Emma is the first Apprentice to be employed by the University of Reading, our host institution. Read more

Supporting progression to HE for Apprentices:

As a result of a meeting convened early in 2010 with key representatives from colleges, university admission staff and the National Apprenticeship Service, Progress South Central developed an action plan to support progression for Apprentices. Key areas of development work included:

• Identifying target cohorts of Apprentices and gathering information on Apprentices being employed by our partners
• Researching what potential demand there might be for Apprentices to progress into HE
• An analysis of statements/entry requirements for Apprentices applying to partner universities and colleges

During 2009-10, a thorough programme of research work was carried out to find out baseline information on Apprenticeships and numbers of learners, and the attitudes of learners enrolled on Apprenticeships in the LLN's region, particularly as regards progression to HE. In addition, we provided practical 'on the ground' assistance by releasing funding for two Apprenticeships, one an administrative position on Progress South Central's own core team and the other a 'creative' apprenticeship at the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden.

See our Action Plan for 2010/11

More information about Apprenticeships can be accessed here

EXAMPLES OF OUR PROJECTS

Research into attitudes and aspirations to HE with apprentices employed by Oxford Brookes University
Project to gather information on the future aspirations of these apprentice learners, inform interviewees about higher education progression opportunities available to them and identify if there were any specific problems encountered by these learners with regard to progression to higher education

Apprentice's Guide to Higher Education
Download our booklet designed for learners who have completed or are about to complete a level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship and are considering further study.

Advanced Apprentices: progression to higher education
Research conducted by Progress South Central with Advanced Apprentices studying at the LLN's partner colleges. The aim of the survey was explore the awareness and intentions of the Apprentices regarding higher levels of education.