Hip-hip-hooray, National Apprentice Week is here!

It’s National Apprentice Week and Plymouth City Council’s Apprentices have kicked off a week of activities with a launch party – all in aid of their chosen charity; Dartmoor Rescue Team Plymouth.

The party, which sold more than 200 tickets, raising over £500 for the charity, was organised by the apprentices to help celebrate the start of National Apprenticeship Week 2014, whilst helping them practice their project management skills.

Now in its seventh year, NAS Week takes place from Monday 3 to Friday 7 March. It provides an opportunity for apprentices around the UK to really shine and raise the profile of their good work amongst employers, schools, the media and the general public.

Ken Holder, Senior Apprentice Coordinator said: “There is lots going on throughout the week in Plymouth and our apprentices are determined to make a good impression. They will be promoting apprenticeships to their friends, family, colleagues, schools, business partners and the media. It’s going to be a busy week but it’s a way for them to get involved in some really exciting projects – it’s definitely hard work but we all have so much fun doing it!”

Throughout the week the team will visit over ten different schools to speak with pupils and teachers about their experiences and explain how an apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to help bridge the gap between education and employment.

On Tuesday, team members will also be at the “Have a go session” in the Guildhall. Organised by Business West young people aged 14 to 25 can come along to this free event and have a go at learning new skills and finding their potential future career. People will be able to have a go at different career options including; nail art, food tech, vehicle diagnostics, digital media, beauty, engineering and much, much more. The event will run from 2pm to 6pm.

Wednesday will see the team visiting Plymouth’s job centres to speak with young people who are finding the job market challenging and offer their own experiences and advice. They will be in the Devonport centre in the morning followed by an afternoon trip to Exeter Street.

The tail end of the week will see the official launch of the Making Waves tourist trail which will see sunfish statues, which were designed by a team of Council apprentices in 2013 and painted by artists in the city, displayed around the city centre and waterfront soon.

The Plymouth Making Waves project was set up to celebrate Plymouth as being one of the best places to complete an Apprenticeship. The project aim was to showcases local talent from our highly skilled city, whilst raising money to support the conservation through an engagement programme at the National Marine Aquarium.

All these activities will contribute towards the apprentices’ submission to the 2014 Brathay Apprenticeship Challenge.

Anyone interested in apprenticeship opportunities at Plymouth City Council should visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/jobs or email apprenticeships@plymouth.gov.uk.

Businesses in the city can show their support and commitment by pledging to employ an apprentice in the future. The pledgometer can be found by clicking on the National Apprenticeship Week banner at www.apprenticeships.org.uk.