As National Apprenticeship Week 2018 draws to a close, Cornwall Marine Network’s (CMN) achievements in supporting apprenticeships have been recognised by the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) as a best practice example.
The European Alliance for Apprenticeships was formed four years ago and gathers pledges from organisations across Europe to support the success of apprenticeships. The Alliance has grown considerably since its formation, with the initial 18 pledges now standing at 236 and includes businesses ranging from large companies such as Nestlé to small representatives.
Paul Wickes CEO Cornwall Marine Network (left) and Sigve Soldal Bjorstad from the DG EMPLOY European Commission (right) at the 10th EAfA stakeholder meeting, Brussels, February 2018
Cornwall Marine Network joined the Alliance in December 2016 when it launched the Erasmus Services for Apprenticeships (SERFA) project alongside EU partners to lead an expansion of its skills support to SMEs model and co-design a package of support tools and services tailored to small businesses. These tools – including recruitment templates, induction packs for Apprentices and mentors’ resources – will be added to the service offer of the Cornwall Apprenticeship Agency (CAA), CMN’s subsidiary company dedicated to reducing costs and risks associated with taking on apprentices.
The 10th European Alliance for Apprenticeships stakeholder meeting took place in Brussels last month. Sigve Soldal Bjorstad DG EMPLOY at the European Commission presented the results of the 3rd EAfA annual survey organised since its launch in 2013. He highlighted the good work in areas of image, quality, supply and mobility from all partners and selected to present the achievements of Cornwall Marine Network as a best practice example. Bjorstad emphasised Cornwall Marine Network’s outstanding and continued work in assisting SMEs with apprenticeship delivery.
“This is an excellent recognition of the work of CMN and our Apprenticeship recruitment Agency teams to help small businesses 92% of whom have never been supported to employ an apprentice. With 1,200 apprentices placed into small businesses since 2013, a third in the local marine sector, the CMN approach is fast gaining a reputation as a winning formula to get Apprentices into small businesses and help them grow,” said Paul Wickes, CEO of Cornwall Marine Network.
For more information on how Cornwall Apprenticeship Agency can assist your business or if you are keen to jump start your career, visit the website www.cornwallapprenticeshipagency.co.uk or call Steve Roberts on 01326 314904.
Notes:
Cornwall Marine Network is a not-for-profit membership organisation working with Cornwall’s marine industry supporting over 350 businesses. Since 2005, Cornwall Marine Network has secured more than £23 million of investment for the Cornish marine industry. The county’s marine industry contributes more than £1.1 Billion to the GDP of Cornwall and is recognised as a vital ‘priority’ sector for future prosperity. Cornwall Marine Network established in 2002 and owned by its members, is dedicated to supporting initiatives that improve profitability and encourage growth through skills, productivity and innovation. www.cornwallmarine.net
The Cornwall Apprenticeship Agency was established in 2012 when it was awarded its ATA (Apprenticeship Training Agency) status from the National Apprenticeship Service. In 2013 the Agency won funding from UKCES (UK Commission for Employment and Skills) to support more businesses and apprenticeship seekers. Since then the Agency has been involved in delivering hundreds of apprenticeships across the County, and further afield, in a broad range of apprenticeship frameworks.
The Services for Apprenticeships (SERFA) Project consists of expert organisations from eight countries across Europe who have joined forces to create the blueprint that will make it easier for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to grow their workforce through apprentices. The Services for Apprenticeships (SERFA) project is led by CMN and finishes in September 2018. The project is funded at 80% by Erasmus Plus under the Key Action 3 priority “support for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises engaging in Apprenticeships”. Erasmus+ is the programme of the European Union that supports actions in the fields of Education, Training, Youth and Sport across Europe.