North East call to meet apprenticeship targets

Aug 27 2008 by Mike Parker, The Journal

THE region’s leading business membership organisation wants North East companies to step up to the mark and meet ambitious Government targets for apprenticeship places.

It follows the publication of the results of the Learning and Skills Council’s (LSC) annual National Learner Satisfaction Survey of 43,000 learners in further education and work-based-learning.

The survey reveals that 94% of work-based learners said that their learning or training gives them skills they can use in a job, while four in five reported additional benefits such as feeling more confident and prepared to try new things.

NECC is one of the largest and most successful training providers in the North East, delivering apprenticeship training – vocational work-based training combined with theoretical study – in an extensive range of disciplines from engineering, construction design, retail and warehousing, to business administration, dental nursing and much more.

Denise McNaughton, NECC head of business development, said: “The findings of the survey back up what NECC has been saying about apprenticeships – they are a fantastic way for young people to learn the skills they need to help progress both their employer and themselves.”

The LSC has pledged support to help training providers deliver employer-led apprenticeship training and Train to Gain provision, meaning employers can benefit from increased funding towards the cost of the training, and in many cases even free training. Denise added: “As one of the largest and most successful training providers in the region, NECC is perfectly placed to help North East companies benefit from the funding provision available to them.

“All it takes is one call to our training team for a business to take the first step to improving the efficiency, productivity and motivation of its workforce.”

The LSC’s “Our Future. It’s in our hands” campaign has highlighted to employers that skills gaps are estimated to cost £165,000 for a typical 50 employee business every year, making it more important now than ever for North East businesses to develop the skills of their staff through apprenticeships.

The NECC currently has 1,500 apprentices in the North East, working in nearly 1,000 businesses including Newcastle Airport, Farmway Group, TNT, DHL and Createcity Ltd.

For more information on NECC training and apprenticeships, call: 0800 195 73 73, visit www.necc.co.uk or email: onestopshop@necc.co.uk.