Yeovil College to deliver Young Apprenticeship programme (From Yeovil Express)

Yeovil College to deliver Young Apprenticeship programme

7:00am Tuesday 21st March 2006 in Yeovil By Helen Rossiter

YEOVIL College has just become the first institution in Somerset to be awarded a contract by the Learning and Skills Council to deliver a Young Apprenticeship programme.

This programme will target very able 14-year-olds who are interested in gaining a level two qualification in either hospitality or engineering as well as undertaking fifty days of work placement over the two-year programme.

Andy Perlejewski, Head of Sixth Form at Yeovil College said: "We are delighted that our experience of working with the 14 16 age group has been recognised and look forward to helping these Young Apprentices progress onto high level positions within the hospitality and engineering industries."

With the development of vocational learning high on the agenda, the local schools are very keen to make provision for their pupils to attend college for two half days per week.

This will mean that they are unable to take at least one of their GCSE options, but this is more than made up for by the fact that they will be taking a qualification that is not normally available until they start college at the age of sixteen.

Local employers have also been keen to get involved, particularly in the hospitality industry where there is a real shortage of hotel and events managers, conference organisers and high quality chefs.

Marinos Paphitis, Executive Director of Somerset Learning and Skills Council, the lead delivery partner in the Young Apprenticeship programme said:"We are extremely pleased that Somerset has a Young Apprenticeship programme due to the successful bid made by Yeovil College and its partners.

"This is an exciting opportunity for a number of students who can now have valuable industry-specific qualifications and employment experience alongside their GCSEs.

"Young Apprenticeships have been introduced as a part of the Government's drive to create a first class system of vocational and technical learning and we are delighted that this programme will be running from September this year."

For further information about the Young Apprenticeship programme please contact Andy Perlejewski at Yeovil College on 01935-423921.