As we enter the final round of Achievement & Development Reviews (ADRs), and following on from Kate O’Riordan’s article reflecting on how ADRs can support training needs and career development, reviewers and reviewees may wish to consider apprenticeships as part of their conversation.
Apprenticeships are one of the many development opportunities we offer staff at the University to enhance their skills and knowledge, gain a qualification and prepare for the next stage of their career.
It’s important that reviewers are aware of the many apprenticeships that can develop our workforce, support succession planning and help the University achieve its strategic aims. Take a look at the useful online tool demonstrating career and occupational pathways available from the Institute for Apprenticeships. As the ADR season continues and the new academic year unfolds, this is a perfect opportunity for leaders and managers to consider their future workforce planning needs to ensure their departments:
- do not suffer from skills gaps in the coming years.
- retain our most diverse, creative and innovative employees
- actively grow their own talent rather than rely on expensive recruitment.
For reviewees, apprenticeship qualifications can provide an opportunity to gain a highly developed set of work-based transferable skills. An apprenticeship is based on current and real work, so the workplace benefits while the apprentice is learning. There are over 600 different apprenticeships to suit people across a range of different career stages in administration, business, digital, creative and design, marketing and management to name just a few. Some are more specialist subjects, and some are increasing in popularity such as coaching (Includes a CMI Qualification) and data analysis (which includes Microsoft Power Bi Data Analyst MPL300).
Apprenticeships are available from level 2 through to degree level, (which includes Bachelors or Masters level) and all the training and assessment costs are funded by the University apprenticeship levy. Apprentice training and study takes place during normal working hours, and they stay on the same contract of employment allowing them to learn whilst they earn!
Find out more on the University apprenticeship webpage.