| Insight into apprenticeships at this week’s networking event combined with a ‘WOW’ experience in a aircraft simulator. We were made very welcome at CAE earlier this week. It was a sell out with, as we expected, over 50 turning up on the day. A tremendous buffet breakfast was prepared for our guests. There were representatives from all our member apprenticeship providers, with details on their programmes.   Tim Lord, Technical Services Director at the CAE Burgess Hill site, explained how their apprentice programme continues from strength to strength, with over 14 having passed through that programme over the last ten years. Many are still with the company. One of their star apprentices also made a quick hello, before attending to final preparations to all the simulator equipment being readied for the demos happening a little later that morning.   Degree Apprenticeships There followed a presentation from Dr Mark Puttock-Brown, senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sussex and Associate Dean of the new Sussex-Surrey Institute of Technology. Degree apprenticeships are available in one of three areas: MSc. in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (27 months) MSc. in Data Science & AI (27 months) BSc. in Business Analytics and Digital Technology (42 months) Drawing on the considerable experience of the University of Sussex’s engineering faculty, these courses offer unique insights for any student as they encompass on-the-job training and engender professional and occupational competence from the get-go, making these apprentices ready-primed for the world of work. It is no wonder that so many of our larger members, such as Edwards, see these as their preferred route to staff development. Accessible Apprenticeships David Hills, from the Meeds Job Club , explained how neurodiverse people can bring unique and valuable perspectives to the workplace. However, ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ are needed to mitigate the barriers to work and performing well at work. A 2017 Mencap study found that the cost of that reasonable adjustment was about £75. Adjusted for inflation, that is still less than £100! Spot the difference! The image below shows the same resources redeployed to meet everyone’s needs. Find out more about Accessible Apprenticeships and Supported Internships. Contact David Hills by email: dhills@woodlandsmeed.co.uk  Financial incentives Non-levy payers who pay 5% towards their apprentice costs will have this dropped if employing an apprentice with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan). £1000 grants available – There is a process for drawing down government funding for equipment or to pay for support staff such as job coaches. |
  All of our guests had the opportunity to land a plane at Heathrow Airport. I’m told that almost all landed safely! Here are some of our Captains on the day. .   To conclude we had the official launch of the much anticipated BH Biz Stars 2024. Our awards page on our website went LIVE that morning. It was also a great opportunity to say a massive thank you to Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors for agreeing to be the Headline Sponsor for the awards and the Gala Evening in May. There are separate sponsorship opportunities available for all the award categories. We have already had significant interest. Full details on our website: https://www.bhbpa.co.uk/bh-biz-star-2024-awards/ Lastly, the event couldn’t have taken place without our CAE liaison, the unflappable Samantha Rowley, shown centre in our final photo. Many thanks to her and the rest of the CAE team. |