Proud apprentices attending a Derbyshire Apprenticeship Graduation event were told their qualifications would see them ‘uniquely valued’ by future employers, by event guest speaker D2N2 Chairman Peter Richardson.
Around 130 young people graduating with Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships attended the graduation event yesterday (28th) along with their friends and family at Derby College’s The Roundhouse building, in Derby.
The graduation ceremony was held as a collaborative event – by Derby College and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – to help raise the profile of apprenticeships as a career path.
Students, parents, friends and family at yesterday’s apprenticeship graduation
It was sponsored by D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership of business, local authorities and education providers which promotes economic growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – Derby City and Derbyshire County councils, Learning Unlimited, 3AAA, the University of Derby, Derby College, the East Midlands Chamber and EMFEC (the East Midlands Further Education Council).
Mr Richardson, Chairman of D2N2, was a guest speaker at the event alongside David Hughes of Eon, who is Chairman of the East Midlands’ Apprenticeship Ambassador Network.
D2N2 is strongly committed to skills and training development in its area, with its own Skills for Growth Strategy and Apprenticeship Growth Plan (2013 to 2018) in place.
Last month (April) D2N2 also launched a Provider Charter, aimed at getting businesses and training providers to sign up to working more closely together, to ensure learning programmes on offer are better able to fill the skills gaps experienced by local employers.
Mr Richardson told today’s audience: The apprenticeship you’ve just completed will give you a sound footing, for you to deal with what happens next.”
He added: “Global companies operating in this county, such as Rolls-Royce and Toyota, spend a lot of time and money running apprenticeship programmes. They see it as a cost-effective way of getting the best people, to run their business in the most efficient and profitable manner.”
As part of the event, The Roundhouse hosted a lunch and information event aimed at employers, with the aim of engaging more employers in offering apprenticeship within their businesses.
For more information on the work the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership is doing to promote skills and apprenticeships see its website at www.d2n2lep.org/skills and its Skills for Growth Strategy at www.d2n2lep.org/write/D2N2_Skills_For_Growth_Strategy_29th_Oct_2014_.pdf
For further information on this news article contact Sean Kirby, Communications Officer at the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, on 0115 9578749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
