Alex Evans – Managing Director and Samantha James – HR Manager at Precision Colour Printing were delighted to visit The Express and Star – MNA (Part of The Claverley Group) to find out more about the pioneering apprenticeship scheme that is helping young people out of work into work placements within local companies.
The event was attended by The Duke of York at The Express and Star offices in Wolverhampton, who met with their 5 new apprentices who recently started work there. Following the success of the apprentice scheme launch of The Ladder for London; The Express and Star is backing and supporting The Ladder for the Black Country and is encouraging local companies to join.
PCP, also part of The Claverley Group is currently working to produce an apprentice programme which will be launched in spring 2015.
Alex Evans who has been very involved in supporting Sam James with the programme said:
“We already have apprentices working with us but are keen to put a more structured programme in place to attract young people to join us, who are interested in the print industry.”
“We are currently working with local colleges and the British Printing Industries Federation to help us launch the scheme.”
Sam James said:
“An Apprenticeship is a way for young people and adult learners to earn while they learn in a real job, gaining a real qualification and a real future. Hiring apprentices helps businesses to grow their own talent by developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.”
“The West Midlands has some of the highest unemployment figures nationally for young people aged 16 – 19 years, the Ladder Apprenticeship programme is about encouraging young people and employers to integrate apprenticeships as part of succession planning processes, helping young people to gain valuable vocational experience and training and aiding employers to organically grow the workforce of the future, providing real life opportunities for young people who might otherwise remain unemployed/unemployable.”
“The Duke spoke compellingly about how these issues are compounded by young people leaving school ill equipped to enter the world of work and that this was especially true of YP’s who did not have a university education to offer employers. Apprenticeship schemes should not be viewed as a lesser alternative for those who are not academically gifted but as a genuine opportunity for young people to gain real experience and on the job training which is often more appealing and of use to industry. PCP is proud to be part of the Black Country Ladder programme and would encourage other employers to consider the scheme.”
Further information can be found at www.ladderfortheblackcountry.co.uk
Details about our new apprenticeship scheme will be available on our website www.pcpltd.net later this year.
