We are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week, an annual campaign backed by the government.
This year the theme is ‘Build the Future’, encouraging everyone to consider how apprenticeships help to build the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career.
The week-long celebration, starting on 7 February, will shine a light on the fantastic work being done by employers and apprentices across the country.
It will also recognise how employers of all sizes have stepped up to the challenge during these difficult times.
The 15th National Apprenticeship Week will take place across England, encouraging individuals of any age to reach their career goals by building their skills and knowledge through an apprenticeship.
At LiveWest we appreciate the full value of apprenticeships in helping to set people on their chosen career path.
We currently have 39 apprentices in programmes ranging from Level 2 in Plumbing to Level 7 Masters in Business Administration with a variety of levels and specialisms in between.
During this week we’ll be celebrating some of our great apprentices across LiveWest and hearing more about their journeys and the support they have been given along the way.
Our People Skills Development Adviser, Laura Sanders, said: “National Apprenticeships Week is a great opportunity for us to highlight the amazing progress our apprentices have made during the last year.
“It has been inspirational to hear their stories and their achievements over the course of what has been a difficult last 12 months.
“Apprenticeships can be a life-changing experience for many, providing a foundation to build their careers in the future.
“At LiveWest we have taken positive steps to ensure our apprentices are able to continue their studies and get that vital practical experience during this unprecedented time.
“This week is a chance to focus on how our apprentices, of all ages and backgrounds, across LiveWest are helping to improve the organisation and our customers’ lives.
Apprentice gas engineer Tracy Perkin, who is in the final year of her apprenticeship, said: “It's amazing that when you start your apprenticeship how daunting the whole prospect is. However, with the support of LiveWest ensuring they are there every step of your journey, it becomes a joy.
“I know it will take a while to get the experience behind me. But I do have an advantage having done the job supervised by my mentor Mark Malone for two years already.
“I'm looking forward to working with LiveWest and being a fully-fledged part of the LiveWest family.
“I've already made a massive difference to my own life and cannot wait until I can make a difference in other people's lives by fixing their boilers and keeping them safe with gas safety checks.”
Laurie Martin recently completed a Level 7 Senior Leader apprenticeship through the LiveWest Apprenticeship programme and the University of Exeter.
As part of the apprenticeship, Laurie also gained a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) and became a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
Laurie said: “The apprenticeship provided me with the unique opportunity to learn academic concepts during my postgraduate studies and apply them to my role within the business.
“This has significantly improved my perspective in how the business operates, allowing me to make better operational and strategic decisions.
“The business has been incredibly supportive throughout the apprenticeship journey. It was a hugely challenging yet rewarding experience which I would recommend to anyone who is interested in personal and professional development.”
Support Worker Suzanne Cooper is doing the Employability Practitioner Level 4 and is the first to sign up to an apprenticeship within the Supported Housing team
She said: “My journey as a LiveWest Apprentice started off with a secondment opportunity within the LiveWest support team.
“This secondment seemed so daunting at the time as its focus was on supporting families into employment and education, this is something I was passionate about but wanted to develop my skills to back that passion.
“My manager was extremely supportive at helping me find a suitable course to assist my current role and I am now undertaking an employability practitioner course.
“It has been amazing working for an employer that invests in their employees and the Apprenticeship team have been fantastic.”
Of the five new multi-trade apprentices who joined LiveWest last month, two are women as LiveWest encourages more females to join its trade’s workforce.
Elly-May Mangan swapped a degree in neuroscience for an apprenticeship as she pursues her dream to become the ‘Queen of DIY’.
Elly-May, 22, said: “University just wasn’t for me in the end. The further on I got into my course, the more it became obvious.
“I am not the sort of person who thrives in a sit-down environment. I like to be busy on my feet.
“I wanted to find a more suitable path that was better suited to me.
“I have always been practical and want to become the Queen of DIY.
“When I spotted the apprenticeship, it looked amazing because it offered the chance to gain a range of skills and do something different every day.
“I didn’t think for one minute I would be successful at interview as there were so many people there with practical experience in a workplace. So when I was told I had got the job, I was over the moon.”
Finn Walker arrived at LiveWest as a 16-year-old eager to pursue a career in the construction industry and train as quantity surveyor.
He enrolled on a two-year course at Exeter College where he studied Construction Contracting Operations to a Level 3. Finn was then promoted from apprentice to trainee quantity surveyor and enrolled on a Degree in Quantity Surveying alongside my full-time work.
Finn said: “This incredible opportunity gave me the ability to study a degree whilst working full time and gaining the practical experience required to succeed in the industry.
“I am currently in my final year of my degree, and I am enrolled on my Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Assessment of Professional Competence period.
“Once this has been completed, I can sit my end point assessment and if I am successful, I will achieve my dream of becoming chartered.
“I have greatly enjoyed the five years I have worked at LiveWest, the opportunities I have been offered here have been instrumental in getting me to where I am today.”