Empowering Future Talent: Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week

Since 1999, we have remained committed to building resilient, future-ready workforces here at ICE. We thoroughly believe in investing in talent and providing opportunities for growth, both personally and professionally.?

Apprenticeships provide a gateway to careers, which can offer endless opportunities for individuals of all ages and at all levels of experience. According to an article published by?the UK Parliament, House of Commons Library, the first national apprenticeship system of training was introduced in 1563. Since then, apprenticeships have played a pivotal role in crafting the future of employment for many individuals.??

Learning has no Limit

Until recently, apprenticeships were subject to age and education level limitations. Since the introduction of 'Apprenticeships for Everyone in 2004', the upper age limit of 25 was removed and pre-apprenticeships were introduced for people not ready to enter a full apprenticeship.

After the 2010 election, higher apprenticeships were introduced (equivalent to foundation degrees or above) and financial incentive payments were later introduced to small firms for hiring apprentices aged between 16-24. As more over 25’s assumed apprentice roles, the number of apprenticeships doubled between 2009/10 and 2011/12 to over half a million. ?

Numbers have continued to remain relatively high for individuals assuming apprenticeship roles and for companies recruiting apprentices, this is reflected in recent research conducted by Apprentices GOV. Figures showed that 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation and 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service. A statement to which we can echo here at ICE.?

Nurturing Homegrown Talent

Over the years, we have employed many apprentices within our?organisation all working within different areas of the business such as; Marketing, Design, IT, Business Administration and Business Support. Nurturing and investing in homegrown skills are a fundamental part of our mission to?make better happen.

To provide employees with the foundations and skillset to build a successful career is a priority for us, which has been prevalent in many different scenarios. In particular, a previous IT apprentice who worked at ICE and completed their apprenticeship here, diversified their career into an internal digital role within the NHS. These examples demonstrate that our support lays the groundwork for individuals to pursue their career paths, regardless of which direction they decide to go.?

Current Apprentices at ICE

Today; we have two apprentices here at ICE, Esmae and Beth who are working within different areas of the organisation. Esmae is currently working alongside the marketing team as a Digital Marketing Specialist for both internal and external clients. Beth is working towards a Business Administration qualification while working on behalf of, one of our Healthy Lifestyles Services based in Oxfordshire, for both, Health Checks Oxfordshire and Stop for Life Oxfordshire. Both are developing in-house skills in each area of their work while gaining hands-on experience and a qualification in the process.?

Our HR and Client Support Assistant, Ethan shares some positive words for both Beth and Esmae: “We have Esmae who is completing her apprenticeship and doing really well at carving a career while helping with the design and implementation of ICE’s marketing content.

We also have Beth who is also doing fantastic. I know the Oxford service would be lost without her - she really is the voice of that service and ensures our clients have the best time possible from the moment they speak with her.” ?

Looking to the Future

Not only is Ethan working with our apprentices to bridge the skills gap within our organisation and support our teams, but he also is an example of how nurturing an individual can lead to career success and progression. Ethan joined ICE in April 2018 as a Business Support Administrator Apprentice and since then has progressed to become our HR and Client Support Assistant. Ethan is a pivotal part of our operations team at ICE and his career progression is a prime example of how developing our in-house talent can benefit a business in both a tangible and intuitive way.?

Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for individuals to get their foot into the door of an organisation or industry. They provide opportunities for a career change or to the option to delve into a new venture; while gaining a valuable qualification and experience - both of which are vital in some industries. ?

By investing in apprentices, you are investing in your workforce and in skills development. In doing so businesses can drive growth, innovation and prosperity while simultaneously fulfilling their corporate responsibilities and securing future success. ?

So, this apprenticeship week and beyond, let us commemorate the achievements of apprentices, and how the scheme has shaped and will continue to shape the future of employment. ?