Young Apprentice, Stephanie Chan on placement at Learning and Skills Council

The Young Apprenticeship programme is part of a government initiative to give pupils aged 14-16 the opportunity to gain some real experience of working life alongside their normal academic curriculum.

We have joined forces with ITEC North East and local schools Kingsmeadow in Dunston and St Thomas More School in Blaydon to deliver a successful Young Apprenticeship programme for 14 and 15 year olds. We also deliver NVQs to students in the sixth form.

We have successfully delivered the Young Apprentice programme since its pilot in 2004.

From September 2008 we are also working with Thomas Hepburn and Cardinal Hume Schools to deliver Young Apprenticeships for their Year 10 students.

The programme framework is made up of the following elements:

• A vocational qualification delivered in school (such as the BTEC First Certificate in Business Administration)

Together with the following qualifications and experiences delivered through Access and ITEC:

• Level 2 Certificate in Administration - delivered at our training centres


• Key Skills at Level 2 in ICT - delivered at our training centres


• NVQ Level 1 in Administration - delivered through extended work placements with local employers

Along with other skills for life post 16, such as:

• Personal Presentation Skills


• Preparing your CV


• Interview Skills


• Customer Service skills - who are YOUR customers?


• Working Relationships


• Using feedback to Improve Performance

PROGRESSION FOR A YOUNG APPRENTICE AT 16 COULD BE:

• To employment within a local business and a full Apprenticeship / Advanced Apprenticeship, then Level 4 or a Foundation Degree
• To Sixth Form at School or College (A levels) followed by employment within a local business and a full Advanced Apprenticeship then Level 4 or Foundation Degree
• To Sixth Form at School or College (A levels) followed by a degree before entering employment

Cohort 2 of Young Apprentices from Kingsmeadow School in Dunston who received awards at a Celebration Dinner at St James' Park, Newcastle in May 2007

I would just like to say on behalf of all of us for a great time at access . I believe that my time at access has improved me as a person and has given me skills that I may never have gained at such a young age. I just want to thank everyone at access for the great time and I hope that your training service will do the same for everyone else as it has done for me. Dominic Craig - Cardinal Hume School - Young Apprentice

To find out more about Young Apprenticeships or other potential school links, contact:
Sue Tomlinson on 0191 490 4657
Or email: stomlinson@accesstraining.org

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