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Apprenticeships in West Yorkshire
During 2008/9 over 8,200 young people in West Yorkshire started to train on either an Apprenticeship or Advanced Apprenticeship programme. In the same period over 3,200 completed their training. Training provision is distributed across more than 60 training providers, comprising private local or national providers and local colleges of further education. Some of the largest providers are the colleges, such as Bradford College (City Training Services), Calderdale College, Kirklees College, Leeds College of Building, Leeds City College and Wakefield College. There are, however, a number of large independent training providers with similar training budgets. These include Kirkdale Industrial Training (KITs), Rathbones and A & R Training, to name but a few.

The LSC, West Yorkshire, no longer supports its original website (www.gettrainedgofurther.com) nor the Directory, which provided information on Apprenticeships in West Yorkshire. However all local authorities now have an on-line prospectus for all 14-19 learners and information on training providers is included there (see below). If you are still at school and want to know what providers offer which Apprenticeships in your district you can find out from your local on-line prospectus. In West Yorkshire the hyperlinks are as follows:

Bradford
Calderdale
Kirklees
Leeds
Wakefield

Progression to Higher Education

Aimhigher
Apprenticesgohigher was the name given to the Aimhigher project that sought to encourage apprentices in West Yorkshire to continue their education and training to a higher level. It was led by Wakefield College in partnership with universities, colleges, training providers and employers across the county.

The project was launched in 2003 with funding from the Partnership for Progression initiative, subsequently included within Aimhigher. Its aims were to determine progression routes for apprentices, to develop appropriate routes for that progression and to explore learner support. It also looked at ways of targeting and supporting under-represented groups.

Additional funding was gained in 2006 for a further two years of work with a greater focus on work with training providers. Further activity will also take place to enable school children, teachers and parents/carers to be better informed about the Apprenticeship route to higher education. The project ended in 2008. During its life there were a number of outputs, some of which were:

Website
The original website, launched in 2004, has now been superseded by this website.

Information
A number of leaflets were produced to promote the project’s aims:

  • Apprentice leaflet
  • Employer’s leaflet
  • Case study booklet
  • Parents’ leaflet

Single copies can be obtained from the project manager, David Fisher, by completing a request via the enquiries page. Alternatively, pdf copies of the files can be downloaded for some of the documents by clicking on the appropriate links below:

If you need to download a copy of Adobe Reader, click here.

A major part of the most recent activity was to advise training providers on their role in delivery information, advice and guidance to apprentices to help them in their career development following completion of their Apprenticeships.

The training was supported by the West Yorkshire Learning Provider network. A booklet was been developed to show providers the information that they should be delivering. Copies of the booklet, shown below, can still be obtained via the enquiries page.

West Yorkshire Lifelong Learning Network
The network is continuing some of the activity which was the aim of the Aimhigher work, i.e. to facilitate the progression of apprentices to higher education. One of the strands is the development of Progression Agreements, making it easier for apprentices to access specific courses at universities and colleges. A link to information on the Agreements, and a list of current agreements, can be found d here.

Useful links:

LSC Site

Connexions - NB There is no longer a West Yorkshire Connexions service - this link goes to a UK map that will lead to the district contacts.

Aimhigher West Yorkshire

West Yorks Lifelong Learning Network

West Yorkshire Learning Providers

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