Bournemouth and Poole College held their Apprenticeships Unlocked last week as more than 2,000 local people flooded in – quite literally, considering the miserable weather.

Visitors had the chance to speak with representatives from Sunseeker, Kier, Yunex Traffic and over 30 other businesses in order to help pupils from Years 9 to 13 figure out their next steps.

A Level student Nevaya Abraham, 16, said she’d ‘pretty much almost made up her mind’ by the end of the evening to study for an apprenticeship in engineering at the college.

And 14-year-old Ollie from Bournemouth Collegiate School came to learn more about how the apprenticeships and the college services work in tandem, giving the event a ‘very good’.

Among the exhibitors on the evening were family-run care home providers Colten Care, who currently have six apprentices on the books and are offering a nursing associate programme.

Becky Morgan, learning and development business partner at Colten Care, said: “We’ve been networking with others and connecting with students interested in our jobs.

“It’s been a really interesting night so far, with many different types of roles requested.”

They were joined by Kier, currently responsible for an ongoing multimillion-pound development at the college’s Bournemouth campus.

The firm have just launched their ‘Kier Construction Careers Hub’ and were keen to showcase some of the opportunities it’s opened up for young people.

Matt Wilkes, senior project manager, said: “Apprentices are vital to so much of the work we do at Kier and will play a huge part in the future of the construction industry.

“We’re very proud of our new careers hub at Bournemouth and Poole College and look forward to showing many more potential apprentices just how many options there are for them to explore.”

College principal Phil Sayles added that the motivation visitors showed on the evening was “truly humbling – even more so on a night of truly awful weather!

“We’re so grateful to the companies who attended, looking for great candidates to employ.

“Our college’s role is to bring together potential apprentices – who can be any age – and employers, and to provide training, funding and support which enable success, qualifications and great careers.

“There really is a great story in the BCP and Dorset areas about apprenticeships.

“Our college is one of the best and biggest apprenticeship providers nationally, and we’re helping more and more talented people, who sign up with strong GCSE grades.

“Within a few years, of earning and learning, they’ll find themselves qualified, experienced in their trade, embedded in a company and building a career, with no student debt.

“After that, new options like degree apprenticeships or other higher study supported by their employer may beckon.”

• thecollege.co.uk

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