SERC Prepares For Apprenticeship Week 2024

All You Need to Know session for NI Apprenticeship Week at SERC

All You Need to Know session for NI Apprenticeship Week at SERC

Would-be apprentices are invited to South Eastern Regional College’s (SERC) Apprenticeships – All You Need to Know sessions during Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week, 5 – 9 February 2024.

Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week, led by the Department for the Economy (DfE), will showcase how apprenticeships can transform the future of apprentices and businesses, helping them release their potential.  

During the week-long initiative, SERC is hosting four information sessions over two evenings from 4.30–7.00pm on Tuesday 6 February (Bangor and Newtownards Campuses) and Thursday 8 February (Downpatrick and Lisburn Campuses).

Victoria Boyd, Training Programme Manager, said: “Our Apprenticeships – All You Need to Know sessions – will include visits to workshops to see the facilities and to gather information for a range of Level 2, Level 3 and Higher-Level Apprenticeships offered.

“Would-be apprentices of all ages will have the opportunity to learn more about available opportunities in a wide range of sectors including accountancy, fire and security, wall and floor tiling, professional cookery, land-based engineering, health and social care, motor vehicle, construction, engineering, electrical, hairdressing, cloud computing technologies and leadership for children’s care.

(l-r) Stephen Smyth (17), from Newtownards, Level 2 Joinery Apprentice employed by Dougan Contracts Ltd, with Victoria Boyd, Training Programme Manager, SERC, and Charlie Clarke (19), from Bangor, Level 3 Apprentice NI in Mechanical Engineering, employed by Lakeland Dairies.

“As apprenticeships run from different campuses, visitors can check the events listings for Apprenticeships – All You Need to Know on our website in preparation of their visit.

“Apprentices are employed from the start and earn whilst they learn, so there is no debt or student loan to pay off at the end of the apprenticeship.  

“They work alongside experienced staff in the workplace and build on their skills and experience each and every day, spending up to four days in the workplace and one day in College for study related to their apprenticeship,” added Victoria Boyd.

“An Apprenticeship is a three-way partnership between the Apprentice, SERC – the learning provider, and the employer and we hope to have some local employers at each session who will be able to give visitors an insight into what an apprentice can expect from day one in the workplace.”  

During the week, SERC will be posting features on apprentices from a range of subject areas and at different levels on our website and social media platforms, including Charlie Clarke (19), from Bangor, a Level 3 Apprentice NI in Mechanical Engineering employed by Lakeland Dairies and Stephen Smyth (17), from Newtownards, a Level 2 Joinery Apprentice employed by Dougan Contracts Ltd.

SERC will also be releasing short films featuring Apprenticeships at Camlin, and Thales.

Victoria said: “And they have been working in partnership with Ards and North Down Borough Council who have commissioned films on All Age Apprenticeships as well as on Higher Level Apprenticeships in Cyber Security and Business.”

www.serc.ac.uk