News: Employers gain apprenticeship insight at the Nottingham Apprenticeship Conference 2022

Our employer services team were at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground yesterday to discuss the benefits of apprenticeships with employers. Hosted by our partners Nottingham Trent University, the conference allowed visitors to get advice on apprenticeship recruitment, funding and more. The conference was arranged as a part of National Apprenticeship Week.

On the day, visitors were treated to an insightful keynote speech from Will Morledge, Interim Director of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, and an online speech from Michelle Donelan, Minister of State for Higher and Further Education. 

The attendees also got to hear from several former apprentices, including Kaira McGregor who is a recruitment coordinator for Nottingham College. Kaira joined the college as a level 2 apprentice administrator for the apprenticeship team. She has since completed her level 3 and now has a permanent role with the college.

Speaking on her apprenticeship experience and presentation on the day, Kaira said: 

“I was able to talk through my apprenticeship journey, which I feel was useful to help remove the stigma of how far an apprenticeship can take you in your career. Apprenticeships can open doors to new career paths and plenty of opportunities.” 

After the initial presentations, employers then moved to breakout rooms to learn more about industry opportunities. 

Amongst attendees was Stephanie May, Early Careers Development Consultant for Experian. 

“We’ve been working with Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham College for some time now on apprenticeship opportunities. It was really nice to get to meet a range of other employers today. I think the sessions were really helpful to everyone here.”

Lisa Wilson, Group Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Services commented on the day, saying: 

“It was great to see so many people in attendance today, keen to learn more about Nottingham’s apprenticeship opportunities. As Nottingham’s largest apprenticeship provider, we know how beneficial apprenticeships can be for young people and businesses alike. I hope that visitors today have left feeling more confident about the recruitment process behind apprenticeships and that we continue to see more employers investing in new talent. Apprenticeships are an excellent way to carve out a fulfilling career.”