What could an apprentice do for you?

10 March, 2015

National Apprenticeship Week runs from 9 to 13 March 2015 and local employers City Health Care Partnership CIC, who have over 1,500 staff on their payroll, are celebrating the valuable contribution apprentices make to the business.

Alex Stephenson, 19, is an apprentice in the social business and public relations team at the CHCP CIC head office on Beacon Way in West Hull. She got the job through HYA Training, who keep an eye on her progress through assessments and exams; she is hoping to complete her first year with an NVQ 2.

“I really love working at CHCP CIC,” said Alex. “I started in August 2014 and I’ve learned such a lot since then. I’ve helped to organise events, worked on reception at health centres, written press releases and taken photographs, amongst lots of other things. It’s a very varied role and every day is different.

“I did ‘A’ levels at school but I knew I wanted to go into employment, not to university, and an apprenticeship was the perfect starting place. It’s given me a wide range of skills as well as qualifications and I’m sure it will stand me in really good stead for getting a job in the future if I don’t stay here.”

CHCP CIC signed up to the Humber Skills Pledge last year, which includes a commitment to take on more apprentices and there are now 20 on the company’s books. Of the 11 people who have completed apprenticeships with the company, 10 have been kept on in employment.

Chief executive Andrew Burnell is enthusiastic about the benefits that apprentices can bring. “It’s not just about giving an opportunity for training and employment to young people in our community; it’s great for us to have their ideas, energy and commitment. As a co-owned business, investing in our colleagues is a fundamental part of what we do and apprenticeships are an important aspect of this.”

To find out more about working at CHCP CIC, go to www.chcpcic.org.uk/pages/work-for-us.