Herald and Gazette 100 in 100 apprentice campaign gets off to a flying start

MPs, and business leaders have joined forces to back the Herald and Gazette’s 100 in 100 apprentice challenge, in association with Northbrook College.

The campaign was officially launched on Friday, with the aim of kick-starting careers for 100 people across the area – all in 100 days.

Between now and the end of April, we will be calling on businesses throughout Worthing, Shoreham and Littlehampton to consider taking on apprentices as part of the campaign, backed by the National Apprenticeship Service.

And already, one young person has been given a career boost.

Bethan Martin-Lacey, 18 of Sackville Road, Worthing, is being put forward for an apprenticeship with Guild Care, working at its Caer Gwent home.

The former Davison High School pupil said: “It was really exciting to be selected for an apprenticeship.

“I’m enjoying being here at the care home and the best thing about it is in just seeing how appreciative people are when you look after them.

“I didn’t enjoy being at school, to be honest, and I had wondered what I could do as a career.

“My mum has worked as a carer and it was something that I wanted to do, as well.”

Bethan added the combination of working and getting qualifications made an apprenticeship ideal for her.

“I will be doing two days a month study with Northbrook college, and will be doing English and maths qualifications as well,” she said.

“At the end of a year, if I have passed my apprenticeship, then there will be a job for me at Guild Care.”

Sarah Tetrault, of Guild Care, said the apprenticeship link formed with Northbrook College over the past few months was proving successful.

She added: “We have four care homes, through which we are placing apprentices and we are able to teach them the best way to do their roles through helping them build their skills.

“This is tested through the frameworks, which are part of the apprenticeship.

“We are able to spend more time one-to-one with people this way, so apprenticeships are a good way for them to develop their careers with us.

“We want them to stay on once they have completed their studies, as we have put the time in with them”

Bethan is expected to be one of at least 100 people who will be celebrating being in a new apprenticeship placement through the campaign.

The Herald and Gazette will be doing its bit, too, with a marketing apprentice soon to be appointed.

- For more information on the campaign see this week’s Herald and Gazette special supplement and Northbrook College’s website www.northbrook.ac.uk/ Each week we will update you with case studies from our 3 month camapign.