<p data-start="51" data-end="225">We spoke with Justin Whiting,<strong> Advanced Technical Trainer – Skills </strong>at the <a href="https://www.nccuk.com/"><strong>National Composites Centre</strong></a>, about NCC’s current apprenticeship programme and how you can get involved!</p><drupal-entity data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f3fd8c80-559d-4832-ad33-97fef538f264" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>1. What apprenticeships do you offer at NCC through Weston College (which industry's, which levels etc)?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>We currently offer the<strong> Level 3 Composite Technician apprenticeship </strong>which falls in the Engineering category; we also offer <strong>Level 6 Project Management apprenticeships</strong>, however, we are constantly reviewing our apprenticeship offerings so this may change in the future.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>2. What do these apprenticeships entail for the learners?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>The learners are on a 3 year and 3-month programme with time spent at NCC and Weston College. At NCC apprentices will work with experienced technicians to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for the apprenticeship, they will also spend time at Weston College learning about Composite materials and working towards the qualifications and their End Point Assessment (EPA).&nbsp;</p><p>The learners will complete a rotation around different areas of the business and then concentrate on specific technologies in the second and third year. As an innovation organisation, the apprentices will be working on cutting edge equipment and procedures. The PM apprentice course lasts 4 years and includes day of study per week for the duration of the programme. Learners on this course will work on different projects with different project teams.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>3. What do NCC look for in an apprentice?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>NCC looks for enthusiastic apprentices who want to learn not just how to do a job but why we are doing that job, we want apprentices to be inquisitive and think of ways that they can improve the processes.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>4. Are there any standout stories of our apprentices at NCC?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>There are many! We have had 5 of our apprentices make the regional finals of Make <strong>UK Apprentice of the Year award</strong>, have been involved in <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize">BBC Bitesize</a> and supported the <a href="https://www.gatsby.org.uk/">Gatsby Foundation</a>. Our apprentices have worked in teams on some amazing projects such as a full-scale wing demonstrator, remote controlled car and drone which have been used to help promote NCC and the apprenticeship programme.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>5. How do apprentices benefit your business?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Apprentices are a major asset to the business. Apprenticeships allow us to train people right from the start of their career in our processes, ways of working and sector expectations. They bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm into the company and inspire the next generation of engineers and project managers.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>6. Do NCC take on apprentices as full-time employees after they have finished their apprenticeship?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>NCC apprentices are on a fixed term contract for the duration of their apprenticeship, they can then apply for full time roles at NCC.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>7. When are NCC next looking for apprentices, and how can students apply?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>We generally start looking for our new apprentices in January/February with a view to holding interviews in April. We advertise any apprenticeship positions on our website and through Weston College.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>8. What advice would you give to people who are thinking about doing an apprenticeship?&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>Do it!!</strong> An apprenticeship is a great way of learning, gaining industry experience and developing professional behaviours whilst getting paid!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>9. Is there anything else you would like to add?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>We firmly believe apprenticeships are a great way to start your career, our apprentices are invaluable to the company.</p>

<p>Hi I’m Danny, and I completed the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/making-it-work… Ready You</strong></a> programme at Weston College, which helped me to gain 3 qualifications including an <strong>E2 Certificate in Preparation for Employment</strong>, an <strong>E3 Award in Preparation of Work</strong>, and a <strong>L1 Award in Employability Skills.</strong> This course has also helped me to progress into my current job role at Weston College, which I will discuss below!</p><p>I chose to enrol on a pre-employment course at Weston College because I had been out of work for a long time and felt I needed to rebuild my confidence and improve my chances for employment. The pre-employment course looked like a good way to help me get back into work and find some direction.</p><p>The course introduced us to various types of jobs and workplaces. We learned how to tailor our CVs for different roles, which was very useful. We also had lessons on communication skills, including giving PowerPoint presentations, working in groups, and participating in smaller team activities.</p><p>In the final week, we gained practical experience through a work placement, with some students visiting places like <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/making-it-work…; and <a href="https://www.puxton.co.uk/">Puxton Park.</a> The course lasted five weeks in total, and there were four weeks of classroom learning followed by one week of work experience.</p><p>Throughout the course, I improved my confidence, communication skills and how to work effectively in a team. These skills have been valuable in both my job search and everyday life.</p><p>Right from the start, I had support from a keyworker from the <a href="https://innorthsomerset.co.uk/2024/03/21/moving-up/">Moving Up</a> team. They were available by phone or email whenever I needed help, and they continued to support me even after the course ended. Most importantly, my tutor Juliette Weaver provided exceptional guidance. She was kind, energetic, and always made sure we all felt included while offering useful resources for learning.</p><p>Shortly after completing the course, I was offered a job at Weston College as a Learning Support Assistant through Forward Futures. The transition was smoother than I expected. Juliette believed in my abilities and recommended me for the job, which made a big difference. When I started working, I found that everyone was very welcoming, and it quickly felt like a supportive team environment.</p><p>A very proud moment for me was to be recognised at the Celebration of Success awards at Weston College. It felt encouraging to see all the hard work of both learners and staff celebrated, and winning the <strong>‘Pre-Employment Student of the Year’</strong> award was a real boost to my confidence.</p><p>I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone at Weston College for giving me this opportunity. The course has made a significant difference in my life. I am especially grateful to Juliette Weaver, who helped me to see my potential when I could not see it myself. Without her support and guidance, I might still be struggling to find work.</p>

<p><strong>We recently spoke with a previous adult learner of ours, Nichole, who underwent our ‘Training the Trainer’ course, to find out how the course has helped her in her current role.</strong></p><p>Hi, I’m Nichole, a Senior Projects Officer at <a href="https://n-somerset.gov.uk/">North Somerset Council</a>. Over a year ago, I did the 2 day ‘Training the Trainer’ course at Weston College, which was encouraged to me by my employer, <a href="https://n-somerset.gov.uk/">North Somerset Council (NSC)</a>, as part of their commitment to staff development.</p><p>At <a href="https://n-somerset.gov.uk/">North Somerset Council</a>, my role combines technical expertise, change management, and project management, and I am tasked with training colleagues in a variety of subjects. As someone accustomed to wearing many hats, I felt that I needed a solid foundation to help me develop and deliver effective training sessions. Weston College’s ‘Training the Trainer’ course offered the perfect opportunity to hone these skills.</p><p>One of the key benefits of the ‘Training the Trainer’ course is the emphasis on building confidence in presenting to groups. I was initially feeling slightly apprehensive about presenting - a very common fear in the workplace! However, the course helped me to realise that the fear of presenting is often much greater than the actual experience; it is never as scary as you originally might think. The course provided a supportive and safe environment that allowed me to practice new skills and step outside of my comfort zone.</p><p>One aspect of this course that stood out for me was the guidance of Megan, the course leader. Megan’s approach to teaching helped me to not only understand the mechanics of creating a training program but also see the importance of establishing clear objectives and purpose. I walked out with a much greater understanding of how to create a purpose for the course I had to design in my current role – and this clarity has been crucial for me as I have moved forward in my responsibilities. Megan leads by example and has a lasting impact on those who she teaches!</p><p>Taking part in ‘Training the Trainer’ has significantly helped with my development of a training program that I have rolled out across <a href="https://n-somerset.gov.uk/">North Somerset Council</a>. Drawing on the templates and techniques I learned, I have created training sessions tailored to my colleagues’ needs. These sessions have been uploaded into the council’s corporate training platform, and I now serve as an instructor. Over the past six months, I have delivered both live and recorded sessions, supported by weekly communications. This combination of formats has earned me a reputation for being not only knowledgeable but also genuinely helpful to my colleagues.</p><p>Looking back nearly a year after completing the course, I can say that the skills I gained from ‘Training the Trainer’ have allowed me to create something meaningful for my organisation, as I continue to expand my training program with additional modules. The course was not only helpful for myself, but also for many of my colleagues at <a href="https://n-somerset.gov.uk/">North Somerset Council</a>, as there were a large number of us who participated and have benefited from doing so.</p><p>I would recommend for anyone who delivers training in their workplace to take a short course to further expand your skills and knowledge, as this increase in your own confidence will help you to make a lasting impact across your organisation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults"><strong>To look through our available adult courses, click here.</strong></a></p>