Association of Apprentices - new employer initiatives!

We wanted to make people aware of two great new initiatives being offered by the Association of Apprentices that may be of interest to any employers with new apprentices.

Career Ready Programme

This free online course helps entry-level apprentices build the confidence, skills, and behaviours needed to succeed in the workplace from day one. Developed in line with behavioural competences within apprenticeship standards, it's designed to support businesses by helping apprentices become work-ready quickly and effectively.

The programme includes:

• 8 interactive modules
• 12-15 hours of flexible guided learning
• A Certificate of Achievement
• Access to the AoA Connect Community for peer support

Apprentices can access the Career Ready Programme by registering for free as a member of the Association of Apprentices on their website.

They'll also be able to take part in our Get Ahead Series, launching on 22nd September — a set of tailored sessions designed to support new apprentices as they begin their journey.

The benefits of the programme include:

• The development of confident, capable young employees
• Reduced onboarding time and improved retention
• Evidence of Off-The-Job training and professional development
• Evidence of behavioural competence of apprentices to support assessment

The second initiative is: 

Supporting Those Who Support Apprentices

To support those who guide apprentices whether line managers, employers, or training providers. This will include:

• Line Managers' Guide - available on our website from w/c 22 September
• Webinar series - For practical tools and insights (next session being: Tues 14th October)
• Workshops - designed to strengthen programme delivery and workplace impact (coming soon)

These resources are especially valuable for businesses, where managers often play a central role in mentoring and development.