Dorset gears up for National Apprenticeship Week (From Thisisdorset)

Dorset gears up for National Apprenticeship Week

5:30pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Latest By Rachel Stretton

DORSET is gearing up for a week of events to celebrate the many different forms of apprenticeships.

Next week, from Monday 6 until Friday February 10, is National Apprenticeship Week, and alongside the Echo’s quest to find the county’s Apprentice of the Year 2012, learning providers and employers have organised a number of events to attract even more people to the versatile courses.

On Monday, all our Apprentice of the Year nominees will appear in a special feature, and phone lines will open for voting.

Dorset County Council, who employ a number of apprentices, is running a hall of fame exhibition in county hall, recognising what their former apprentices have gone on to achieve. Emily Jones, senior HR support assistant, is one of the organisers. She said: “We’ve got case studies of people who have finished apprenticeships and gone on to great careers.

“This is a great opportunity for us to promote apprenticeships and show people what they can go on to achieve.”

Kingston Maurward College is holding a course information day from 10am until 1pm on Sunday February 5, where people considering beginning an apprenticeship course in September 2012 can try their hand at various activities.

The college also held an Apprentice Awards Evening on Wednesday February 1 to recognise the achievements of its students.

Weymouth College has a number of events spread throughout the week, including a buffet lunch for employers to encourage more businesses to take on apprentices.

Lisa Stamp, apprenticeship manager, said: “This week is all about promoting and celebrating the excellent work our apprenticeships produce.”

Lisa will also be at the Ansbury Connexions office, on St Thomas Street, Weymouth, from 1pm on Thursday February 9 to talk to anyone who wants to find out more.

The week, the fifth of its kind, is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).

Dr John Chudley, Divisional Area Director for the south, said: “We are delighted that so many organisations in the area are supporting National Apprenticeship Week by putting on events.

“There are some fantastic activities on offer.”

Nominations are now closed

Nominations are now closed for the Dorset Echo’s Apprentice of the Year competition.

All our finalists will appear in a feature in Monday’s Echo, and the overall winner, plus two runners-up, will be decided by public vote.

The phone numbers to cast your vote will be printed underneath each apprentice.

The results will be announced in the next couple of weeks.