One week left to enter apprentices challenge

Time is running out for employer and training providers to nominate their apprentices into 2014’s Brathay Apprentice Challenge, with nominations closing on Friday13th December.

The Challenge has already seen entries flood in from organisations across England including NITP (National IT Partnership) a training partnership that delivers IT Apprenticeships, Southend Citizens Advice Bureau, Arqiva and last year’s winners Innovia Films from Cumbria who have entered to defend their title.

The Brathay Apprentice Challenge, which is supported by the National Apprenticeship Service tests apprentices on their team building, leadership, logistical and communication abilities in a series of challenges including awareness raising and community projects.

During the Challenge apprentices take part in a community project and awareness raising activities. Last year the teams raised a staggering £35,000 for local and national charities along with conducting over 300 school visits promoting the value of Apprenticeships while also delivering over 60 community projects ranging from renovating derelict empty space to holding CV drop-ins for local youngsters.

Richard Morris, Innovia’s Global Learning & Development Manager said: “As a business we used to focus heavily on technical skills and knowledge and let the people side look after itself, recently we have balanced that out by focusing on important people qualities and behaviours; for example, self-awareness, network building, appreciating personal impact and emotional intelligence.  The Brathay Apprentice Challenge illustrated how important these attributes are, at all stages in a career.”

Teams of nine apprentices entering the Brathay Apprentice Challenge can be made up all from a single employer, a group of small businesses, an industry sector, supply chain or training provider. This means all businesses have the opportunity to show the country what their up-and-coming stars can do.

Godfrey Owen, Chief Executive of organisers, Brathay Trust, said: “The tasks that the teams complete as part of the challenge allow the apprentices to develop a huge range of skills. These are skills that are not only useful within the Challenge but essential for the workplace. While building on these skills the teams are also giving young people important information about Apprenticeships as a valued career path.”

Karen Woodward from the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “The quality of work coming from the teams that take part in the Challenge shows not just employers but the wider community about the impressive work apprentices can achieve. Challenges such as the Brathay Apprentice Challenge offer an enhanced Apprenticeship experience which benefits both employers and apprentices; employers gain a workforce with transferable skills throughout a business while apprentices themselves develop greater skills that will help with their current job and future careers making them more likely to be promoted.”

For more information on the Brathay Apprentice Challenge and to apply, visit http://www.brathay.org.uk