Travel with Champo

Prince ' s Trust North East Celebrate Success Awards

The Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards honour the achievements of disadvantaged young people supported by The Trust who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.

Gateshead Council and North East Apprenticeship Company Educational Achiever of the Year

Recognising young people who have overcome barriers, developed new skills and improved their education prospects.

Winner:

• Samantha Foster

Finalists:

• Jordon Ross


• Robbie Canavan

NEAC at TUC UnionLearn Conference on Monday 7th Feb @ St James Park Newcastle

NEAC will be exhibiting at the TUC unionlearn conference at St James Park Newcastle on Monday the 7th Feb.

Why not come and see us if you are attending?

We would love to tell you what we are up to.

I will post more info on the  day.  Why not follow us on Twitter (NEACltd) and keep up to date.

Looks like a great Agenda.  It will be great to hear Catherine McKinnell MP who is one of NEAC's excellent employers.

Promoting Apprenticeships – A role for trade unions

Monday 7^th February, The Moncur Suite, St James’ Park,

Newcastle upon Tyne

10:00          Refreshments and Registration

10:30          Opening Remarks Joyce McAndrew, Education, Learning & Skills Forum Chair

10:40          Catherine McKinnell MP for Newcastle North, Shadow Solicitor-General

11:00          Q&A

11:10          National Apprenticeship Service – John Wayman, Regional Director

11:30          Q&A

11:40        Employer Case Study 1: Sunderland City Council

11:55         Employer Case Study 2 (tbc)

12:10        Lunch

13:10       Trade Union Role in Apprenticeships; Apprenticeship Toolkit Graham Randle, TUC Apprenticeships Liaison   Promotions Officer

13:20          Activity: Trade Union Role in Apprenticeships

13:50          Feedback

14:05          Tackling Inequality in Apprenticeships Dave Storrie, Regional Development Workers

14:15          Activity: Tackling Inequality in Apprenticeships

14:45          Feedback

15:00          Closing remarks Beth Farhat, Union Development Coordinator

Why cant we stop ' bashing ' our young people and support them for once!

On the eve of National Apprenticeship Week, with anticipation and an appetite to encourage young people and employers that an apprenticeship is a cost effective and efficient route to continue education and learn new skills, I am amazed at the ‘youth bashing’ that I continually see and despair of!

When will we as nation realize that if we continue to kick our young people when they are down and believe that the responsibility is with others and not everyone, our young people will continue to be under-skilled, under supported and under utilized in our workforce. Then we wonder why they don’t seem to ‘conform’ to what we see as normal.

When was it ‘normal’ to disregard the needs of a whole generation and feel OK about it?!!!

It is crazy that we hear that ‘our’ government are not only scrapping EMA, which helps thousands of young people to continue their education, but also scrapping the apprentice guarantee for 17-18 year olds.  And then a reckless journalist from the Telegraph who clearly knows no better, decides that they should write an article about how many apprentices ‘don’t’ achieve giving the government another reason to cut the disappearing investment that goes into supporting our young people to find their place in the workforce.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/8305821/Apprentice-drop-out-rate-running-above-25pc.html#disqus_thread

It is easy to have a go at young people without actually really looking into the successes as well as the young people who find an apprentice is just not for them I’m sure the said journalist and indeed many of us would not be too happy every time we started something with all the enthusiasm in the world just to drop out before we have finished?

I agree that sometimes many young people make the wrong choice but so do we all.  Come-on, why don’t we all get real and focus on the opposite 75% who do achieve for once, and start to talk about the ‘good’ job that has been done with these young people and also what an impact these young people have had.

We have to at some point find some balance about our opinions and come to our senses and give young people a chance.  Apprenticeships can not only change the lives of the young people who undertake them, the families within which these young people live, and quite clearly the employers within which they work.

Lets find some good news about our young people for once and see what happens.  You never know we may like how it feels.

NEAC first in the region with the launch of new apprentice CV service

The North East Apprenticeship Company (NEAC) is the first in the region to provide a ‘revolutionary’ new online CV service which will benefit both young apprentices and employers.

Apprentices at the NEAC will be among the first people in the UK to use Innovate CV, http://neapprenticeship.innovatecv.com/ an interactive online method of marketing your talents to employers.

Billed as ‘the future CV’ the Innovate CV website www.innovatecv.com allows job seekers to create multi-media resumes as part of their search for an apprenticeship.

It also enables prospective employers to browse through a showcase of skills and qualifications online and find the right person for their vacancy, saving them time and delivering costs savings in the process.

NEAC is making the most of advances in technology to make sure its apprentices have the best possible opportunities to find employment while looking at ways to improve our service to employers said managing director Paul Champion.

He added: “This is another exciting first for the North East Apprenticeship Company. In signing our apprentices up to use Innovate CV, we are leading the way in introducing the very latest advances in recruitment techniques.

“This online CV helps employers to find and recruit the candidates best suited to the roles within their organisation. And each employee using it can also update and review their CV over time too.”

NEAC has signed up more than 150 companies since its launch last year and has a regional brief to expand apprenticeship positions, tackling the skills gap to create more than 1000 new apprentice jobs in the next two years, particularly among small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Innovate CV requires the candidate to input their information from which it creates an online CV for use on this and other websites. It links in with candidates existing social networks to help secure employment as the platform provides a functionality to share a CV on sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Among its many features is an onsite search engine which candidates can use to help find useful contacts to assist with their job search.

The Career and Training section of the website highlights any skills and knowledge the candidate may lack when pursuing their dream job, and provides opportunities for them to enrol on online courses to fill the gaps.

The launch of Innovate CV from NEAC will occur during Apprenticeship Week 2011, which takes place from Monday 7 to Friday 11 February 2011. The aim is to highlight the talents and skills of apprentices and celebrate the value of apprenticeships.

More at www.neapprenticeship.co.uk or email info@neapprenticeship.co.uk Tel: 0191 490 2453.

NEAC Welcomes first Apprentice Ambassador Tim Lamb General Manager ' Metro Centre '

NEAC would like to welcome and thank its first Apprentice Ambassador, Tim Lamb (General Manager) Metro Centre in Gateshead.

Tim Started his career as an apprentice in the North East and is convinced that the skills that he learned in those early years of his working career have contributed substantially to what he has achieved to date in his very successful career path.

"I am delighted that Tim is the first of hopefully many successful businessmen and women, who will sign up to be one of NEAC's apprentice ambassadors.  It is clear to see from Tim's success in business that completing an apprenticeship is a great foundation and launchpad for a successful working life. I would love to hear from anyone who feels they have a story to tell about how their apprentice experience has contribute to their working career.  We are looking forward to welcoming more apprentice ambassadors in the next few months to help encourage more employers and young people to consider and apprenticeship"  Paul Champion CEO NEAC.

We asked Tim a few questions about his thoughts on apprenticeships:

How Come you became an apprentice?

At  15/16 I was a fairly typical young lad from a normal working class background, I lacked motivation, care of direction from my school. Not being a trouble maker I was just left to my own devises, and coming from my background University wasn’t really on the radar.

I left school with 4 ‘O’ levels 2 B’s English and maths and 2 C’s, my father was an engineer with 30 years in the motor trade. On leaving school I saw an advertisement in the Evening Chronicle for an apprentice for Mill Garages within the parts department,  my father came along for the interview and his advice was to always have very clean shoes, this must of helped as I got the job.

What were the best parts of doing an apprenticeship?

There were lots of good parts, however it was the feeling of self worth that I was someone worth investing in. I really enjoyed being at college, learning along side working.

The boost to my self –confidence encouraged me to do re-sits of ‘O’ levels and take A levels, and this linked to the 3 year apprenticeship allowed me to see other job roles and possible future careers.

What were the worst bits of doing an apprenticeship?

In those days apprentices were often treated as lackeys, just an extra pair of hands, but today I can see that there are clear and targeted outcomes that are needed to achieve the apprenticeship framework.  Employers can see the clear benefit and return on investment that ensure that capable young people are given responsibility to develop their own skills and clearly contribute in a a big way to delivery of a business.

Would you advise businesses to take on an apprentice?

Certainly it is a great way to build the skills an organisation needs for the future using the skills and culture within to develop the right people .

Would you advise young people to undertake an apprenticeship?

Definitely its a great way to develop a career.

The mixture of working in the actual job , being paid whilst being able to develop your skills through that but also having the training aspect to develop the technical skills required by completing technical certificates and NVQ.

This enables organisations to develop people with the skills and attitudes they require for the needs of their business.

 

NEAC Welcomes first Apprentice Ambassador Tim Lamb General Manager ' Metro Centre '

NEAC would like to welcome and thank its first Apprentice Ambassador, Tim Lamb (General Manager) Metro Centre in Gateshead.

Tim Started his career as an apprentice in the North East and is convinced that the skills that he learned in those early years of his working career have contributed substantially to what he has achieved to date in his very successful career path.

"I am delighted that Tim is the first of hopefully many successful businessmen and women, who will sign up to be one of NEAC's apprentice ambassadors.  It is clear to see from Tim's success in business that completing an apprenticeship is a great foundation and launchpad for a successful working life. I would love to hear from anyone who feels they have a story to tell about how their apprentice experience has contribute to their working career.  We are looking forward to welcoming more apprentice ambassadors in the next few months to help encourage more employers and young people to consider and apprenticeship"  Paul Champion CEO NEAC.

We asked Tim a few questions about his thoughts on apprenticeships:

How Come you became an apprentice?

At  15/16 I was a fairly typical young lad from a normal working class background, I lacked motivation, care of direction from my school. Not being a trouble maker I was just left to my own devises, and coming from my background University wasn’t really on the radar.

I left school with 4 ‘O’ levels 2 B’s English and maths and 2 C’s, my father was an engineer with 30 years in the motor trade. On leaving school I saw an advertisement in the Evening Chronicle for an apprentice for Mill Garages within the parts department,  my father came along for the interview and his advice was to always have very clean shoes, this must of helped as I got the job.

What were the best parts of doing an apprenticeship?

There were lots of good parts, however it was the feeling of self worth that I was someone worth investing in. I really enjoyed being at college, learning along side working.

The boost to my self –confidence encouraged me to do re-sits of ‘O’ levels and take A levels, and this linked to the 3 year apprenticeship allowed me to see other job roles and possible future careers.

What were the worst bits of doing an apprenticeship?

In those days apprentices were often treated as lackeys, just an extra pair of hands, but today I can see that there are clear and targeted outcomes that are needed to achieve the apprenticeship framework.  Employers can see the clear benefit and return on investment that ensure that capable young people are given responsibility to develop their own skills and clearly contribute in a a big way to delivery of a business.

Would you advise businesses to take on an apprentice?

Certainly it is a great way to build the skills an organisation needs for the future using the skills and culture within to develop the right people .

Would you advise young people to undertake an apprenticeship?

Definitely its a great way to develop a career.

The mixture of working in the actual job , being paid whilst being able to develop your skills through that but also having the training aspect to develop the technical skills required by completing technical certificates and NVQ.

This enables organisations to develop people with the skills and attitudes they require for the needs of their business.

 

Ten Minute Rule Bill Public Sector Apprenticeships

Labour MP Catherine McKinnell has proposed a Ten Minute Rule Bill requiring "successful bidders for high-value public contracts to demonstrate a firm commitment to skills training and apprenticeships".

Introducing the bill on 14 September 2010 Ms McKinnell said expanding access to apprenticeships can "create a more tailor-made training system where employers, who know their industries better than anyone, identify the skills that are needed and train their apprentices to suit it".

CLICK ON THE LINK  BELOW TO SEE THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL.

The North East Apprenticeship Company now works with closely with Catherine by supplying and apprentice to her constituency office.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_8994000/8994368.stm

Coming SOON! Green Apprenticeship Programme

Watch out for the launch of the North East Apprenticeship Company, and the Environmental Academy's new Green Apprenticeship Programme.  This is a new and exciting initiative that you will hopefully be hearing a lot about in the future. 'Putting Energy in Your Business"  green apprenticeships are on their way and they are hear to stay.

Ten Minute Rule Bill Public Sector Apprenticeships

Labour MP Catherine McKinnell has proposed a Ten Minute Rule Bill requiring "successful bidders for high-value public contracts to demonstrate a firm commitment to skills training and apprenticeships".

Introducing the bill on 14 September 2010 Ms McKinnell said expanding access to apprenticeships can "create a more tailor-made training system where employers, who know their industries better than anyone, identify the skills that are needed and train their apprentices to suit it".

CLICK ON THE LINK  BELOW TO SEE THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL.

The North East Apprenticeship Company now works with closely with Catherine by supplying and apprentice to her constituency office.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_8994000/8994368.stm

Coming SOON! Green Apprenticeship Programme

Watch out for the launch of the North East Apprenticeship Company, and the Environmental Academy's new Green Apprenticeship Programme.  This is a new and exciting initiative that you will hopefully be hearing a lot about in the future. 'Putting Energy in Your Business"  green apprenticeships are on their way and they are hear to stay.