Fresh
Tangerine PR and Juice Digital to get GM businesses to say 'Yes to Apprenticeships'
Following the success of ‘Creative Break’ – an apprenticeship programme, devised and marketed by Tangerine, targeted at the creative industries sector – Tangerine PR and its sister agency, Juice Digital, have been tasked with extending the appeal of apprentices into other business sectors. The programme – ‘Yes to Apprenticeships’ – has been devised jointly by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, its apprenticeship training provider – Skills Solutions – and Tangerine to target five key GM business sectors.
In line with the Government’s announcement to increase the funding of vocational training by an extra £222m a year and create an extra 100,000 apprenticeships across the UK, the programme will call on business leaders in Greater Manchester to say ‘Yes To Apprenticeships.’
To launch the campaign, Tangerine brought together key ‘business champions’ from across five business sectors: Business/Finance, Automotive, Engineering/Manufacturing, Construction, and Hair Care, to champion the initiative.
Picture: standing on the steps of the Manchester Town Hall, Mark Howden (head of Regeneration, Balfour Beatty Capital), Bill Shepherd (vice president, BNY Mellon), Mark Smeeton (managing director, MotorSave Ltd – Swinton), Thor Rooney (manager and senior director, Nicky Clarke Manchester) and Nathan Bluer (Torkington Engineers), all cemented their support in helping to raise awareness of the benefits to businesses of taking on an apprentice and encouraging businesses in Greater Manchester to expand their already positive response to Apprenticeship programmes .
Heather Green, director of Apprenticeships at Skills Solutions, said: “Despite an increase in individuals signing up to take part in apprenticeship programmes across the region and a renewed interest in Apprenticeships from within the media, there is still sometimes a lack of awareness or understanding of what they can really offer.
“The reality is Apprenticeships offer businesses increased longevity of service, the ability to ‘home grow’ talent and the chance to immerse an individual in the ethos of a business from day one, which together are without question beneficial to any business whatever the sector.
“So, working with Tangerine and bringing together this team of ‘champions’ we’re looking to spread the Apprenticeship message far and wide in the hope that this will empower those that have already said yes to taking on an apprentice, to encourage other organisations to make a commitment in considering offering Apprenticeships as a viable business option.”
Recent research, commissioned by the National Apprenticeship Service, showed that over 80 per cent of people are more likely to use a business if it offers Apprenticeships to young people. There is even some talk that public sector procurement might be geared towards these businesses in the future, offering even more reason to take this road than ever before.
Businesses that want to learn more about recruiting an apprentice through the ‘Yes to Apprenticeships’ programme please visit www.gmchamber.co.uk/yes or email info@yestoapprenticeships.co.uk
