SLOUGH PARENTS' APPRENTICESHIP EVENT

Learning to Work in collaboration with Mars Wrigley hosted the first Slough Parents’ Apprenticeship Event to challenge the myths around apprenticeships.  

 

On Tuesday 15 October 2019 Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy kindly offered a perfect venue for students and parents to find out about apprenticeships and the different into employment available in Slough and the local area. Gone are the days of just apprenticeships in basic skills. 

 

A survey from the National Apprenticeship Service found that 87% of parents give careers advice to their children, but as many as 90% don’t feel equipped to give it in the first place. The top three sectors that people still associate with apprenticeships are construction, electrical, and plumbing – but in reality this is a myth as there are endless apprenticeship schemes available. 

 

Together with top volunteers from Berkeley Homes, Beaumont Estate, BPS World, Brightred Resourcing, Resource Productions, Frimley Health, Slough Urban Renewal, HP Ltd, The Royal Collection Trust – Windsor Castle, GSK and Heathrow Windsor Marriott, parents and students had the chance to hear about the apprenticeship pathway into work and just how much local organisations value apprenticeships in the workplace. 

“This event is really useful for students and shows young people the alternative routes available.” Hewlett Packard team. 

 

BPS World sent a team to support parents with their decisions commenting: “A great opportunity to educate the wider community on apprenticeships as they are still not well known, and the benefits for those who are particularly looking at an alternative route to university.” 

 

We were pleased to welcome hundreds of parents through the door and gained an encouraging response enabling us to hopefully facilitate another: “As a parent I really appreciate a local service like this to find out what local employers are offering. It has been a very informative evening which has enabled us to make more informed decisions about steps post a GCSE qualification. I really enjoyed meeting the exhibitors and listening to the talks which were just the right amount the time and length. 

 

“We are delighted that we were able to offer this impactful event for Slough parents. The turnout proves the need for this type of activity that equips parents with the information they need to help their children make the right career decisions. We are extremely pleased that we were able to open parents’ minds to the opportunities offered by apprenticeships.” Rachael Burt, CEO, Learning to Work 

 

Learning to Work were able to gather together a distinguished group of people for the benefit of the Slough community thanks to the support of Mars Wrigley and their vision to drive local people into local jobs. 

 

Learning to Work continue to forge links with businesses to help students reach their full potential and hope to educate them and lead them into careers which match their skillsets.