Case Study: The Apollo Group
Company Name: The Apollo Group
Company Size: Large Employing over 250
Company Sector: Construction
Apprenticeship programme description
To deliver our apprenticeship programme we work with three different training providers.
1. Skills for Growth
2. The London Construction Training Centre in Walthamstow
3. Oakland College
There are a number of different ways in which our training programmes are delivered, we work closely with the training provider to provide the training programmes that work for Apollo.
For example, our office based apprentices attend college once a week with regular visits from their Tutor Assessor - whereas training for our staff on Train to Gain programmes is delivered almost totally on site.
Other vocational programmes are delivered on a week block release rather than a day release. In this way the trainees can cover much more in a week than in a day, if they start a project they can complete it in that week. It is the flexibility of training that really makes a difference.
We keep regular contact with all our trainees and liaise closely with our providers. The apprentices go to college together and form a close bond and team spirit. It is an aim of Apollo that they feel part of the company and not just sent out on site and left to get on with it. They have regular points of contact and we are here to make sure that they succeed.
We always take on our apprentices locally, looking to promote local employment and equal opportunities - we specifically encourage women into the construction industry. Our Community Liaison Officers are involved in all sorts of local events and ventures to encourage community involvement, such as producing Newsletters for residents to update them on work-in-hand and employment or training opportunities.
We believe that we lead the way within the industry, working with local training providers to offer young people long-term skilled job opportunities and a bright future. We are an expanding company who are deeply commited to training with at least 15% of our employees currently in training in different courses such as surveying, site management and CIPD exams.
The apprentices we are taking on are the next generation. We are actively working towards closing the shortage of a skilled workforce and in addition we, as a company, benefit from the enthusiasm, optimism, diversity, energy and drive that an injection of bright young people can bring to an organisation.
Our apprentices learn from the high standard of training provided on their vocational courses but at the same time we are able to mould them to our own aspirations and best practices. Our apprentices are loyal and committed, appreciative of the opportunities open to them and justly proud of their own progression and their contribution to the team. The quality of our workforce is enhanced and continuity is assured .
All our apprentices are working for an organisation that cares about them and about whether they succeed. We deliver quality training on site, they are monitored regularly to make sure they are being treated properly and any problems are dealt with. They all have their travel paid, receive a tool kit when they start and all their PPE. We will make sure that they gain their CSCS card and any other additional training that we are in a position to deliver, e.g. fork lift training.
We also deliver a vast choice of Health and Safety 'Tool Box' Talks, where they get to earn a certficate of achievement. We also run 'Enrichment' days, when instruction on method statements, risk assessments and health and safety issues is given. We try to make these day fun by holding some sort of team building game. We are also running an Apprenticeship of the Year scheme which also gives them all an incentive to do well.