Apprentices, employers and training providers have been taking part in a series of nationwide activities to highlight National Apprenticeship Week (Monday 1 February to Friday 5 February).

 MP Eric Martlew today (Friday) visited System Training in Carlisle as part of a number of unique events organised to demonstrate the value of Apprenticeships. 

Mr Martlew met System Training’s Logistics Apprentices and local employer representatives from Stobart Group, Wm Armstrong and Enesco.  He also gained an insight into how System Training’s unique delivery model benefits both parties long-term as well as offering measurable improvements in logistics industry standards in the workplace. 

Meanwhile System’s CEO Robin Brown got involved by taking time out from his normal role in the boardroom to undergo the same training as the Logistics Apprentices.                             

Brown was put through his paces by instructors as he sat his HGV driving theory test and learned how to drive a truck using safe and efficient driving techniques. 

At the same time a number of the youngsters currently undertaking an Apprenticeship swapped roles with Brown and took over at the helm of System Training. They took charge of a conference call and chaired a website review meeting between different departments within the company. 

One took over the role of chairperson and two others assessed the Apprenticeships section of the System Training website to work out how more information could be provided to prospective candidates and how best to use social networking to appeal to their peers. 

The UK government is committed to increasing the availability of workplace opportunities for young people through the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and is currently offering grants of up to £2500 to employers to help fund apprenticeships.  

Tony Higgins, System Training’s Operations Director, said:

“System Training are very pleased to support National Apprenticeship Week and it was very encouraging to have Mr Martlew along today to meet our group.  Our Logistics Apprenticeship is a unique business model that will ultimately provide more financial benefit to both local employers and the individual Apprentices. 

Our partners, the National Apprenticeship Service, Skills for Logistics and Logistics Academy North West have helped us to create an innovative new Apprenticeship programme that will lead to an increase in Apprenticeship numbers during these challenging times.  Our programme forms the basis of a long term career in logistics and the creation of potential management and leaders of the future.” 

Robbie Tattersall, a Logistics Apprentice from Dalston, said:

“Today was a big benefit for us all.  It was very important to meet some local employers who will hopefully be looking to give us jobs in the future and it really helped to be able to ask them questions about their business.  I got a lot out of the job swap with Robin Brown and it was nice to be able to give feedback on the company’s website; hopefully they can use it to attract more Apprentices for the future.” 

Ends 

All attached images available in high resolution upon request. Information created and supplied copyright free by The Inside Line Ltd. Media contact: Glenn Patterson, m: 07920 548976, e: glenn@the-inside-line.co.uk  

Further information on System Training and their training and workforce development solutions available from Stephanie Norman, t: 01228 574024, e: Stephanie.norman@system-training.com  

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