Apprenticeship adviser embarks on shopping centre tour

A leading provider of apprenticeship and careers advice is set to hit the road during half term, as it undertakes a shopping centre tour in a bid to raise awareness of the opportunities afforded by apprenticeships.

With the Government targeting the creation of 3,000,000 apprenticeships by 2020 and with National Apprenticeship Week on the horizon in March, Paid To Learn, a dedicated service for apprenticeship vacancies and careers advice, is to undertake a tour of some of the UK’s key shopping centres over next week’s half term as it looks to spread awareness of the benefits on offer for potential apprenticeship candidates.

Ryan Longmate, joint managing directing of Positive Outcomes, the organisation behind Paid to Learn, said: “Thanks to Government backing and with more and more businesses implementing apprenticeship schemes, awareness of their advantages is ever increasing. However, there’s still a lot of work to be done when it comes to raising awareness amongst apprenticeship candidates. Unfortunately, there’s a level of stigma associated with them, which is completely unjustified. We’re looking to dispel these apprenticeship myths and convince youngsters of their worth as a career path.”

The organisation plans to tour five different shopping centres during next week’s half term, starting in Bromley, Greater London, before moving onto Milton Keynes, the Trafford Centre in Manchester, the Metro Centre in Gateshead and Broadmarsh in Nottingham. On separate dates at each centre there will be an information stand staffed by Paid to Learn engagement officers, who will be imparting their knowledge and apprenticeship experience to prospective candidates.

Ryan Longmate continued: “We’ll be looking to engage with as many prospective apprenticeship candidates as possible. With it being half term we hope to see interest from those currently within the apprenticeship age range, as well as those wondering what to do once they’ve finished school.”

Ryan added: “It’s not just prospective apprentices we’ll be looking to talk to either. Any parents out there who are interested in finding out the finer details of apprenticeships are more than welcome to come and chat with us and find out the fantastic opportunities that apprenticeships can provide.”

The ‘tour dates’ for the Paid to Learn information stands are as follows:

• intu Bromley – Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th February.
• intu Milton Keynes – Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th February
• intu Trafford Centre, Manchester – Thursday 18th and Friday 19th February.
• intu Metro Centre, Gateshead on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th February.
• intu Broadmarsh, Nottingham on 20th and 21st February.

Ryan Longmate concluded: “It’s a great opportunity to interact with those who are most likely to take up an apprenticeship and we’re excited to see the engagement that we get. Apprenticeships really are an excellent career option and we’ll be hoping to promote them as much as possible over the course of the week.”