Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week

This week marks National Apprenticeship Week, an annual celebration of the value of apprenticeships in the UK. Each year the event highlights the positive impact apprenticeships make to business, individuals and the wider economy.

Over recent years, apprenticeships have become increasingly popular, as more people are realising they provide a valuable combination of qualifications, skill development and work experience, all within a structured environment. With opportunities to now study higher level apprenticeships, individuals are realising the choice doesn’t have to be university or apprenticeships – it can be both.

Last year alone, almost half a million people started an apprenticeship in England, and this is only set to grow further, as current government policy is firmly in favour of apprenticeships.

National Apprenticeship Week over recent years has seen a huge variety of activity – Prime Minister David Cameron launched new programmes, employers have pledged to recruit more apprentices, and there have been features in national news and increased social media conversation (watch out on twitter for #NAW2016). 

This year, we have marked the week by offering apprentices the chance to join as a member for the discounted rate of just £10. This is a one-week-only offer and apprentices should write to registers@rsc.org and quote ‘apprenticeship week’ to find out further information.

Watch out for news of Clare Viney – our director of membership and external affairs – who will be going back to the floor at High Force Research in Durham to carry out an apprentice’s role for the day, in order to raise the profile of apprenticeships within our sector.

For more information about apprenticeships please get in touch with Richard Holliday, Royal Society of Chemistry Vocational Skills Manager using the RSci/RSciTech contact details on this page.