Training for success

Did you know there's still time to take on or convert an existing staff member on our apprenticeship programme!

Apprentice Jessica Gaeta

“

We needed a new member of staff quickly and Buxton College responded efficiently and gave clear advice and guidance throughout the process. The staff took time to understand our organisational needs and helped us get the right person for the job.

”

Emma Fox, Peak Forest Playgroup.

Apprentice Sam Bowden, Highly Commended at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2011

Did you know?

Full funding is available for apprentices training who are below 19 years of age.
80% of employers who employ apprentices agree they make their workplace more productive.
There are over 85,000 employers offering Apprenticeships in more than 130,00 locations; there are over 200 frameworks suitable for hundreds of job roles.
88% of employers who employ apprentices believe that Apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce.

Keeping you up to date

We hope to keep you up to date with developments on training and funding, new legislation that may affect you, and how Buxton College can help. This page is a great opportunity for your company to showcase good practice to your contemporaries.

We have two key objectives in our work with you - to provide high quality training and to be innovative and responsive to your business needs.

Many of you will already know us as providers of apprentice training. We offer a range of apprentices in catering and hospitality, motor vehicle, child care, health and social care and hairdressing with new apprenticships coming online from September 2011. Find out more about the apprenticeships we offer.

We are also able to offer you the opportunity to undertake a full and free training needs analysis with Liz Parsonson our Business Development and Contracts Coordinator, who can work with you to identify short and medium term training solutions. If you already know what type of apprenticeship you want, please get in touch and we can offer a free recruitment service to match the best possible candidates to your business.

We appreciate that it is a tough economic climate currently and that all businesses are looking to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Our tailor made training programmes designed with and for you are priced with value for money in mind. Our short course programmes for industry offer high quality compliance training.

We believe that apprenticeships are an opportunity for you to upskill your workforce before the economy picks up, so please get in touch to see what we can do for you.

Government funds further apprenticeships

While apprentices are at the heart of the coalition governments blue print to rebuild British economy the changing landscape of higher education could make them even more sought after. The coalition plans to invest £150 million in an additional 50,000 apprenticeship places confirmed their pivotal role in upskilling the nations workforce. A shortage of university places and an announcement by the government that there will be national insurance breaks for small and start up businesses further underline apprentices as a viable alternative to full time education.

Buxton College as part of the University of Derby is uniquely placed to offer you and your employees seamless progression from level one to level seven.

New Legislation

The Specification of Apprenticeship Standards in England or SASE became law on 6 April 2011. All new apprentice frameworks are now designed by the relevant Sector Skills Council and employers to improve apprenticeships for each industry.

This is the final piece of the jigsaw that for the first time enshrines apprentices in law and underpins the governments commitment to apprentices as the cornerstone of vocational training in England and Wales.

What you should know:

All apprentices must have a contract of employment for the duration their apprenticeship.
Every apprentice must have a minimum of 280 hours per year of on and off the job training.
Every apprentice framework must cover a competence based qualification (normally NVQ) and knowledge based certificate or technical certificate.
Evidence of the application of personal, learning, thinking and social skills.
Employee rights and responsibilities.
Key or functional skills in at least 2 areas, Math and English.
Remember - Apprenticeship minimum wages will rise to £2.60 an hour in October 2011.

National Apprenticeship Awards 2011

Congratulations to Sam Bowden who is an intermediate apprentice at the Pack Horse gastro pub and restaurant in Hayfield. Sam was short listed for the Regional Apprentice of the Year 2011, hosted at the Rolls Royce Learning Centre in Derby on Friday 20th May 2011.

The Apprenticeship Awards received over 1,600 applications this year. There are 3 categories ; Employer of the Year, Apprentice of the Year and Young Apprentice of the Year.

Sam received a Highly Commended certificate at the event, he said 'I really enjoyed the event and was very proud to have been nominated by the College and my employer recognised for their support of me."

AGE Grant Helps Local Playgroup

The Peak Forest Playgroup is one of several employers that have chosen Buxton College as their apprenticeship provider and through this partnership they have now benefited from grant funding to help them during these difficult economical times.

Emma Fox who is the Committee Chair for the playgroup has described her experience of working with Buxton College as "very helpful in dealing with our request for an Apprentice. We needed a new member of staff quickly and Buxton College responded efficiently and gave clear advice and guidance throughout the process. The staff took time to understand our organisational needs and helped us get the right person for the job."

"We are delighted to have an apprentice join our team. Having access to the AGE Grant has enabled us to employ a full time member of staff, which we would have been unable to do otherwise. The AGE Grant has helped our team to be more effective and creative."

Jessica Gaeta, who began her apprenticeship in March 2011, stated that "I thought it was going to be a daunting experience but Buxton College made the process easy and everyone at Peak Forest Playgroup has been incredibly welcoming".

Once Jessica has completed her Level 3 Childcare apprenticeship she is looking to move onto a Foundation Degree at the University of Derby, which Buxton College is a part of.

Student hair show

Meet the team

Find out more about the team, and how you can get in touch for your free Organisational Needs Analysis.

Jargon Busters

We are very conscious that we often use words or terminology that can confuse or detract from the message. Below is a list of the more common ones you might come across:

Level 2 - equivalent to GCSE.
Level 3 - equivalent to A levels.
Level 4 - equivalent to the first year of a degree programme.
Level 5 - equivalent to the second year of a degree programme.
Level 6 - equivalent to the final year of an undergraduate degree programme.
Level 7 - equivalent to a post graduate qualification i.e. Masters of higher degree.
Level 8 - doctoral study leading to a PhD.
SFA - Skills Funding Agency, the government funding body for apprentices and other FE qualifications.
NAS - National Apprenticeship Service charged with raising the profile of the apprenticeship programme.
Framework - the components or elements of a particular programme of study.