Apprenticeship opportunities from Richmond School and Sixth Form College

Are you a local employer who is considering taking on apprentices from July 2021, or do you know any companies or organisations who are looking to do this?

Richmond School are looking to strengthen links with local employers who could provide apprenticeship opportunities to young people who are leaving after GCSEs in Year 11 and A-levels in Year 13. In building a strong network of local businesses, the school aim to support both students and employers by starting conversations and application processes as early as possible.

Current students have undergone a particularly challenging time recently having to adapt to different ways of learning, and missing out meaningful school interaction for a large part of their school and college year. We are keen to provide as much support as possible to those students due to leave school in summer 2021, to ensure they have the best opportunities available to them. We already have many students whose preference is to secure an apprenticeship.

In the first instance we are keen to hear from any local employers who will be taking on apprenticeships from July 2021 onwards, as well as organisations who would consider this in the future. Please can we ask for contact details to be sent initially to Ruth Hamer, Careers Advisor by email to rhamer@richmondschool.net

We are extremely proud of the students who have taken up apprenticeships recently and we have loved hearing from their employers who have been delighted with their performance, work ethic and eagerness to learn. Students have gone on to pursue apprenticeships in many areas of industry including construction, hairdressing, catering, electrics, plumbing, engineering, IT, marketing and surveying.

We are pleased to share some feedback from companies who have supported our students with apprenticeships:

Paul Ward, Managing Director of Swale Scaffolding, said: “Matty has settled so quickly in to his first work environment and he is already proving to be great asset to our team. He presents at work each day with a great air of enthusiasm and has a real spring in his step as he travels around the yard in his gleaming new uniform. If Matty keeps this high standard up he will have a great future with Swale Scaffolding Ltd.

“We would also like to pass on our sincere thanks to Richmond School in helping us with the first intake of what we hope to be an annual apprenticeship recruitment drive with the school.”

Graeme Newton, Managing Director of Randall Orchard, said: “Graeme Newton, Managing Director at Randall Orchard Construction and an alumnus of  Richmond Sixth Form College, said: ” Richmond School can always be relied upon to support their students with exceptional careers advice and work experience opportunities so they have an appreciation of the realities of the workplace and what is expected. We value the character of the individual very highly – the right attitude and a good work ethic go a long way in any industry, and Ryan perfectly demonstrates those important qualities.

“We really appreciate the contribution apprentices make to Randall Orchard. They are an essential part of our strategy to nurture skilled tradesmen who are the backbone to making our business successful.”

Anna Clinton, owner of Saks, said: “We are excited to welcome Olivia to the team. She has been joining us for training since October last year so she already feels like part of our family. We are really impressed by the commitment she has already shown and are looking forward to seeing her progress with her qualifications.”

Joanne Sinnott, Operations Manager at Tom Willoughby, said: “Megan joined Tom Willoughby’s straight from A-levels in September, with the intention of starting a Degree Apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying in September 2021.  Megan is a very capable young woman who has taken to her role extremely well. By taking the decision to spend a year gaining an insight into the industry prior to commencing her studies, I believe she will be in a far better position than many of her peers. By undertaking the apprenticeship, she will be in the valuable position of seeing what she is learning at University actually taking effect in the real world.