“It is our social and moral responsibility to turn disadvantage to advantage” – Elaine Bowker backs Government’s apprenticeship scheme expansion

A college principal today backed the Government’s apprenticeship scheme expansion saying institutions like hers have a “social and moral responsibility” to turn disadvantage to advantage.

The Government this week announced an expansion of its apprenticeship scheme which is expected to benefit 50,000 young people. Skills Minister Jacqui Smith says the Government is removing the 5 percent levy on apprenticeships for under-25s and offering new apprenticeships in AI, hospitality and engineering, and some with the defence sector. It’s being brought in to combat youth unemployment.

Welcoming the news, Elaine Bowker, Principal and Chief Executive of The City of Liverpool College said: “As the College for Business in The Liverpool City Region we welcome today’s government announcement on apprenticeships. The rising levels of NEET is unacceptable, we cannot afford to lose a generation of talent. Across the City Region we work closely with employers in engineering, hospitality, social care and digital to ensure our curriculum reflects their changing requirements.

“It is our social and moral responsibility as a leading provider of apprenticeships to turn disadvantage to advantage and, as we have consistently for decades, to work closely with our employer partners to help create tomorrow’s workforce.”

The City of Liverpool College is based across five campuses plus a new Construction Skills Academy at Liverpool Waters.

Providing courses ranging from City & Guilds Diplomas in Bricklaying to Apprenticeships in Carpentry and Joinery and dedicated training courses for retrofit assessment and advice, for people aged 16 to retirement age, the new academy will not only see students work on real construction projects and learn their trades on site, it will also provide contractors with direct access to a pool of trained apprentices, students and upskilling existing workers trained in relevant skills to meet the shortfall in the sector.

The academy includes three large 150 square metre purpose-built workshops – with each accommodating different specialisms – namely: brickwork, carpentry and joinery and plastering, as well as dedicated spaces for solar, modern methods of construction and retrofit advice and assessment. These will complement the existing state-of-the-art heat pump training facility at the nearby Vauxhall Road campus.

These workshops will be used for real construction work ranging from building walls and making and installing staircases, roof trusses and fire doors, to installing and maintaining solar panels and heat pumps.

Learners working across all courses and disciplines will combine their skills to literally build the shell of a real house – which once completed will be knocked down again so the process can be repeated.

A dedicated Green Skills training centre will also see students working alongside energy companies based on site including First Utility and Tomato Energy and teachers to do real construction work including installing solar panels and ground source heat pumps.

Six 28-seater classrooms are also used for construction courses alongside other subjects such as maths and English.