Apprenticeships and their Power
Written by Ian Walker, Senior Project Manager, ELBA
National Apprenticeship Week took place 6-12 February. 2023’s theme was ‘Skills for Life’, a key focus of ELBA’s work.
In early-stage career discussions, the term ‘apprenticeship’ is often commonly explored. And, whether you have just left college or want a complete career change, there are apprenticeships that can help you pursue what you enjoy.
One study found that a huge 85% of apprentices stay in employment, and 64% of these continue working with the same employer. It’s certainly encouraging to now see apprenticeships being taken seriously enough that people from all levels of educational attainment, ages and with different career interests consider an apprenticeship as a means to achieve their aspirations.
One industry that is seeing a healthy bounce back with apprenticeships is construction. With reported figures higher for the first two quarters of the 2021/22 compared to the two years prior.
An encouraging statistic is the increasing number of women now working in construction. Women make up around 14% of construction industry professionals and this is likely to increase as we move forward, with even more women now looking at the construction industry as an area to build their career. Misconceptions about gender-specific roles are gradually diminishing, with a growing number of women opting to forge a career in the construction or engineering industry.
“Apprenticeships are fantastic, and you would be surprised how many women are joining the industry. I’m working really hard to justify the faith put in me, and I’m learning a lot. So far, I have plumbed in over 20 bathrooms now on First Fix. I’m making strong inroads into my NVQ, which I hope to complete this year to further my career…plus my pipe bending is coming on really well!”
Riette Hayes-Davies – Plumbers mate – Canada Water Masterplan
Apprenticeships are fast becoming a major consideration for people of all ages especially as perceptions of apprenticeships are challenged. ELBA is dedicated to supporting both candidates and employers to engage in apprenticeships, so if you want to know how you can explore getting involved, why not get in touch with the ELBA employment team, employment@elba-1.org.uk.
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