National Apprenticeship Week 2019

National Apprenticeship Week is an annual occurrence with the aim of celebrating apprentices’ achievements and their positive impact on local businesses.

This year Apprenticeship Week took place from 4th March to 8th March with the theme of “Blazing a Trail”. The theme aimed to showcase the new energy and passion that apprentices can bring to the workplace, promoting apprenticeships as a positive route for anyone looking to progress or change their career.

Darlington Borough Council Learning & Skills has celebrated Apprenticeship Week with a variety of different activities. They have spoken to a range of local employers and apprentices in regard to the positive impacts the apprenticeship has had on them and showcased the impacts on their website and social media.

During apprenticeship week, current apprentices have taken part in a competitive step challenge to promote health and wellbeing. They have also arranged a drop-in event at the Town Hall where members of staff could gain more information about apprenticeships and the positive impact they could have on their department, looking at success stories and the opportunity for upskilling staff.

The biggest event of the week was the Tees Valley Apprenticeship Week challenge which involves teams of apprentices from all five Tees Valley local authorities competing in a range of mental and physical tasks. Middlesbrough Council Community Learning hosted the event at Middlesbrough Sports Village on Thursday 7th March.

During the day the apprentices had to communicate effectively in relay challenges with Functional Skills twists, undertake team building exercises and sprint challenges as well as other physical activities. Darlington Borough Council apprentices were the overall winners of the event and will assume responsibility of hosting next year’s challenge.

Darlington Borough Council Learning & Skills offers a range of Level 2, 3 and 5 Apprenticeships in Business Administration, Customer Service, Site Joinery, Motor Vehicle, Early Years, Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools, Care and Residential Childcare.  For further information, please contact Learning & Skills on (01325) 405601 or l&[email protected].  Also see our website on www.darlington.gov.uk/education-and-learning/learning-skills/