Somerset College

As the country celebrates National Apprenticeship Week and apprenticeship figures in Somerset are climbing steadily, Somerset College and Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton have been celebrating apprenticeship success.

Principal Rachel Davies of Somerset College paid a special National Apprenticeship Week visit to two hospital departments to talk to College apprentices there, see what their work involves, and give certificates to a group who achieved 100% success rates on the first Sterile Services Apprenticeships.

The group combined study at the College with on the job training, and all have gone on to successfully find employment in the NHS, including further training as Pharmacy Apprentices with Somerset College, and a Health Care Assistant post at Musgrove.

“We are very proud of these young people’s achievements, they are among the many in Somerset who show Apprenticeships are a great way forward - apprentices benefit enormously and employers experience excellent benefits,” said Principal Rachel Davies.

“It’s been good to see the apprentices grow  in confidence, and for us it’s been a hundred per cent successful, enabling us to extend the department’s working hours and train people using our in-house established training programme ,” said Nick Chillmaid, Quality Co-ordinator / Training Officer at Musgrove Park Hospital.

As well as National Apprenticeship Week, Somerset is celebrating the Get Somerset Working Campaign, which aimed to increase the number of employers taking on apprentices. The campaign saw Somerset College and other training providers exceed targets and find 156 new employers, who took on 145 apprentices and gave 123 work experience placements.

A special Apprenticeship Evening also held at Somerset College as part of National Apprenticeship Week, saw over 70 young people dropping in for advice on Apprenticeships and a chance to see current vacancies in a variety of career paths.

Caption:
Front row, left to right, Principal Rachel Davies, qualified Apprentices Charlotte Cole, Jade Brooks, Josh Harris, Sophie Greene, and Senior Mentor Graham Kimber. Back row, qualified Apprentice Luke Stephens, Nick Chillmaid, Quality Co-ordinator / Training Officer and Mark Morley, Manager of the Sterile Services Department.