Leading college group WCG travelled around 13 schools across three Midlands regions to highlight the benefits of apprenticeships and the range of industries on offer.
It visited schools in Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, with apprenticeships being showcased ranging from plumbing and engineering to horticulture and animal care.
Activities included the assembly of plumbing fittings, animal health checks, table setting, napkin folding and horticulture seed sewing. Students got the chance to create their own catapult under the watchful eye of engineering tutors from the college.
There were also demonstrations of power tools and motor vehicle experts partially stripping engines for prospective apprentices to inspect.
The college group is the largest college provider of apprenticeship training in the region, with up to 2,000 apprentices trained every year and working with over 1,100 local, regional and national employers. Mark Whittaker, from WCG, said: “We have seen huge interest in our apprenticeships bus over the last four years and have spoken with thousands of young people in schools all across the Midlands.
“This year to facilitate demand we have upgraded to a double-decker bus, which allows us to host more innovative and attention-grabbing activities for young people on the bus itself.
Right career
“We aim to make it as interactive and engaging as possible, with widespread professions and industries to help young people find the right career for them.
“Apprenticeships continue to be at the heart of government policy and will play a vital role in rebuilding the UK economy. There is always more work to do to ensure that young people know about the benefits of taking the apprenticeship route and that is what we are trying to do with our apprenticeship roadshow.”
The double-decker bus hit the road to visit Myton School, Trinity Catholic School and Campion School in Leamington and Warwick, before heading to Rugby to visit Harris Church of England Academy, Rugby Free Secondary School and The Avon Valley School. It then headed to Coventry to visit Westwood Academy and WMG Academy.
Visits also included The De Montfort School in Evesham, St Benedict’s Catholic School in Alcester and St Augustine’s Catholic High School in Redditch. The tour finished with visits to The Chase School and Hanley Castle High School in Malvern before making its final stop at Pershore College.
WCG offers a wide range of apprenticeships in a variety of industries. For more information visit www.wcg.ac.uk/apprenticeships
