This week (7-11th February) we are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week in the UK. I always enjoy this opportunity to shine a light on the amazing work being done by employers and apprentices across the country.
As a former secretarial apprentice myself (at the UK Atomic Energy Authority in Dounreay, Scotland), I know at first hand how instrumental an apprenticeship can be in establishing the foundations for future success. I have no doubt that my choice to follow a vocational route to furthering my education has provided me with countless opportunities over the years. That's why I've spent the vast majority of my career championing apprenticeships and other development programmes to encourage others to follow different routes to the workplace, rather than just academia.
Since May 2017, Pearson has used the apprenticeship levy allowance to future proof its skills pipeline, and work to attract a diverse range of talent into the business. Almost 300 employees have joined an apprenticeship, with the programmes on offer ranging from a ‘Level 3’ (usually taken around aged 16) in team leading, through to the Masters Degree Apprenticeships in Digital and Technology, with many more besides. Starting in the UK, we now have positions in the US and South Africa too.
Apprentices are offered in a flexible and blended approach to study alongside their job, with a day a week equivalent of ‘off the job’ study time. They are encouraged to take up internal secondments, join our Employee Resource Groups and have a strong system of mentoring and pastoral support to help them through the programmes (which range in length from 15 to up to 48 months in duration).
As part of these celebrations, this week we will be sharing the inspiring stories of two Pearson apprentices - an apprentice from the Pearson employee programme, Alex, as well as a degree apprentice working at our partner organisation, Pearson College, Imani.
It has been a pleasure to support the hundreds of apprentices who made the choice to build careers through vocational learning, drawing on my own experience to provide guidance for the generations of apprentices that followed me.
Learn more about Pearson employee apprenticeships and see live vacancies here.
Anne Ashworth is head of employee apprenticeships at Pearson.
