The success of Greater Lincolnshire apprentices is being celebrated at a three simultaneous events at key locations throughout the county on 12 March 2015.
Hundreds of apprentices from across Greater Lincolnshire will come together at three events along with their guests, employers and other organisations involved in Apprenticeships. High profile speakers will facilitate the events.
The Greater Lincolnshire events are being delivered by a consortium after government funding was recently awarded to the Work Based Learning Alliance Ltd (WBLA) with huge support from Grantham College, one of 19 successful bids in the country to successfully gain a grant to plan and host ceremonies. Plans are well under way to make it a night to remember!
Geoff Middleton of the WBLA said: “We are delighted to be hosting these events, which will celebrate the enormous success and achievement of Higher and Advanced apprentices across Greater Lincolnshire.
Every single person who has completed an Apprenticeship can be proud of what they have achieved. It is important that success is rewarded to encourage others to aspire to greater things, and that is what these ceremonies will do.
The events will help to raise the profile of Apprenticeships and highlight how undertaking an Apprenticeship can lead to a successful future. There were almost 10,000 Apprenticeships started in Greater Lincolnshire in the past year, every one of these having a positive impact on the local economy.”
Herman Kok, LEP Director and Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Employment and Skills Board said “Skills based learning deserves a much wider public recognition which is why, in Greater Lincolnshire, we have been promoting and highlighting the achievements of our Apprentices and Skills Graduates for some years. We are pleased that Greater Lincolnshire has been chosen to stage 3 of the 19 national events and with help from our employers and training providers, we will ensure that these celebrations will be memorable occasions for the apprentices and their supporters.”
Karen Riley, Regional SFA Deputy Directorsaid: “Apprenticeships are thriving in Greater Lincolnshire and it’s easy to see why. Nearly every employer that takes on an apprentice (96%) reports benefits to their business and this is testimony to the important role they have to play in the country’s economic recovery. After finishing, most apprentices (86%) will stay in employment.
These ceremonies highlight the quality and range of Advanced and Higher apprentices. Higher Apprenticeships are available at a range of levels, from the equivalent of a foundation degree to a bachelor’s degree and even master’s degree level in some sectors. More of these specialised and highly-skilled Apprenticeships are being offered each year, giving individuals the chance to continue their professional development and fully realise their potential.”
The graduation ceremonies project is being rolled out nationally following two pilot ceremonies and four trailblazers over the last two years. Some £400,000 of Government funding has been awarded to the project in total.
The graduation ceremony grants are being managed by the Association of Colleges and Association of Employment and Learning Providers, through the Skills Funding Agency. Grant amounts account for around 60% of total event costs with the remainder made up of sponsorship and local area funding.
If you would like to support these ceremonies, or require further information please contact Geoff Middleton at geoff.middleton@wbla.co.uk.
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