Renishaw is a globally successful engineering firm, founded in 1973 by two former Rolls Royce engineering apprentices. It took on its first apprentices in 1979 and today, the business turns over more than £500 million annually.
Gloucestershire College helps more than 700 apprentices to qualify in sectors ranging from catering to computing each year. The college cultivates strong relationships with businesses of all sizes to understand what they need, and to support students through to a successful career.
Gloucestershire Engineering Training was founded in 1977 by a partnership of county businesses. It provides apprenticeship training for the county’s best and most innovative engineering firms and continues to support apprenticeships as a route to work and career development.
The University of Gloucestershire is an integral part of the county’s economy. It has forged strong links with businesses through its courses, its Business School, its part in the Growth Hub network and by introducing new higher apprenticeship opportunities.
Paid for by the Apprenticeship Levy or funded by the government, apprenticeships can help to upskill staff, kickstart careers and improve productivity, motivation and morale.
From trades to cyber; engineering to archeology or software; to an MBA in leadership or a degree in digital, Gloucestershire’s colleges and universities can deliver custom courses to suit individual businesses’ needs – with SoGlos handpicking 21 interesting apprenticeship courses that are available in the county right now.
Specialist engineering training provider, Gloucestershire Engineering Training (GET), has a 44-year history of training apprentices for the very best engineering firms in the county – from the smallest of companies to giants like Renishaw, which has 80 apprenticeships on offer in 2022.
GET’s tutors have industry experience and work closely with companies to ensure their training fits the needs of the industry today – as well as liaising with local businesses to make sure they are providing the kind of training that their staff need. It provides Level 2 intermediate and Level 3 advanced courses for apprentices of all ages.
The Level 3 Cyber Security Technician apprenticeship at Gloucestershire College has been designed for those providing first-line cyber security support. Individuals will learn to monitor and detect potential security threats and escalate as necessary.
The college also offers a degree-level apprenticeship in cyber security, ideal for technical professionals operating in business or technology functions across a range of sectors.
Gloucestershire College has a host of apprenticeships on offer, as well as expert advisers in-house. The Level 3 Digital Marketer course is just one of the digital-related apprenticeships it delivers at all levels.
Students learn to co-ordinate, monitor and analyse online and social media activities and campaigns, putting strategies about engagement and audience retention into practice to convert contacts into leads.
Designed for any individual moving into a senior or strategic management role, this University of Gloucestershire course will challenge learners to draw on their own business experiences, which are then underpinned with academic knowledge and high-level skills.
Once their apprenticeship is completed, learners can undertake an additional project to achieve an MBA. This project takes six months and is carried out remotely, with no additional cost to the employer.
The University of Gloucestershire’s Cyber Security Technical Professional Apprenticeship is a Level 6 course that’s designed to give learners the key knowledge, understanding, skills and experience that are sought after by employers in the cyber sector.
Delivered as a Level 3 course at Cirencester College, the Archaeological Technician apprenticeship provides training for those who want to step into the world of archaeology.
Providing support to archaeologists during investigations, archaeological technicians are responsible for safely undertaking surveys, excavations and analyses in line with industry standards and guidelines.
Equipping students with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective IT solutions in the workplace, the Digital Technology Solutions Provider course at the University of Gloucestershire includes a mixture of specialist and general computing modules, covering data analysis, network engineering and software engineering.
Specialist work-based modules focus on specific employer needs, while the core, skills-based sessions give learners a broad understanding of IT solutions.
Working with students to build strategies that will help them to address genuine challenges faced by their employers, the University of Gloucestershire’s Chartered Manager apprenticeship offers the ‘triple guarantee’ of a degree, on-the-job experience and a professional pathway for future development.
SGS College recruits more than 600 apprentices a year for its partners’ businesses – with its Level 3 course in plumbing and domestic heating helping to upskill technicians who are responsible for installing, commissioning and maintaining all aspects of plumbing and heating systems.
Focusing on all aspects of accounting, from financial markets and institutions to the global business environment, apprentices on the Level 4 Financial Advisor course at the University of Gloucestershire benefit from maximum exemptions from professional exams, including ICEAW, ACCA, CIMA and AIA, upon graduation.
Described as a ‘great route to build the knowledge and behaviours’ for a career in software development, the Level 3 Software Development apprenticeship at Gloucestershire College offers apprentices of all ages the chance to start a new career path.
The college also runs a Level 4 apprenticeship for software developers who can build and test simple, high-quality code across front-end, logic and database layers; interpret design documentation and specifications; and lead projects.
Designed to prepare learners for the manufacturing engineering environment, this course teaches core skills that students can directly apply in their workplace – with each apprentice learning on industry 4.0 manufacturing systems and becoming a certified Bachelor of Engineering upon graduation.
Hartpury College has a range of agricultural-related apprenticeships, including its Level 2 Stockman Standards course. Equivalent to GCSE-level study, the programme teaches practical skills in farming, allowing learners to specialise in beef, sheep or dairy farming.
Students are taught how to optimise animal wellbeing throughout each stage of their life cycle, looking at animal productivity, health and welfare; as well as learning how to use farming technology and work as part of a team.
Designed for qualified network engineers, including technicians, administrators and systems engineers, this Level 4 apprenticeship at Gloucestershire College helps professionals to upskill – providing the latest technical advice and guidance on network configuration, cloud, network administration and monitoring tools.
Ideal for aspiring professionals and talented career entrants, the University of Gloucestershire’s Digital Marketer programme gives learners a solid understanding of digital and social media marketing, equipping them with the skills they need to design and implement effective digital marketing campaigns.
SGS delivers Level 1 and 2 Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeships, as well as the Level 3 advanced apprenticeship – a one-year course aimed at those looking to work in the construction industry as an advanced craft site carpenter.
The course provides learners with the specialist technical skills and knowledge to seek employment or further training in site carpentry – while students also benefit from practical-based training in the form of work experience and employer-led projects.
Effective facilities management is key to the success of any organisation – and apprentices can develop the qualities and skills needed for a career in this fast-growing field by undertaking a Level 6 programme in Facilities Management at the University of Gloucestershire.
Through this Level 3 qualification, SGS College offers training for technicians who are responsible for designing, installing, commissioning and maintaining electrical systems – such as fire, emergency and security devices that protect individuals, homes and properties from danger.
Targeting HR professionals, Gloucestershire College’s Level 3 apprenticeship in HR Support offers further training to those responsible for delivering front-line support to managers, employers and employees.
The college also runs a Level 5 HR Consultant apprenticeship for professionals working in roles such as a HR business partner or HR consultant.
Cirencester College has a whole host of sales and marketing-based apprenticeships on offer. Its Level 4 courses include PR and Communications Assistant and Marketing Executive; with Level 3 programmes spanning Marketing Assistant, Junior Estate Agent and Customer Service Specialist. Plus, it also offers a Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner apprenticeship.
Hartpury College’s Level 3 Crop Technician apprenticeship is an A-level-equivalent qualification which encourages students to develop skills in preparing and cultivating sites for planting, harvesting and storing crops; plus maintaining equipment and machinery.
Learners develop an understanding of sustainable crop production, as well as important transferable skills including communication and management skills.
By Andrew Merrell
Follow SoGlos on LinkedIn and sign-up to the weekly SoGlos business newsletter for the very latest Gloucestershire business news stories.
© SoGlos
Wednesday 16 February 2022
From flower fields and music festivals to fantasy worlds and sky-high spectacles, there’s lots to keep local pleasure seekers...
This environmentally conscious, artsy and pet-friendly town is a great choice for house hunters in Gloucestershire – with SoGlos...
If you’re looking for breathtaking backdrops for your wedding photographs, then look no further – we’ve found...
SoGlos rounds up a whopping 100 ideas for family days out in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, to keep those calendars busy...
Finding new things to do with the kiddies can sometimes be tricky, so we’ve pulled together our top 12 toddler-friendly days...