Thu, 24 May 2012 06:34:43 +0000WeeblyMon, 14 May 2012 09:53:22 +0000http://www.3aaa.co.uk/1/post/2012/05/new-models-for-our-apprenticeship-academies.htmlFollowing the recent announcements made by the Skills Funding Agency
concerning apprenticeship and in particular the requirement for all
apprenticeships to have a one year minimum duration, we have been working hard
with our employers and college partners to develop new models which we will be
implementing over the next few months


Look for detail in our web sites, NITP, AAP and Bloom for more
detail.


Whilst we remain of the belief that short apprenticeships do have a
place for motivated and bright young people, and we will be lobbying about this
when appropriate, our new models, developed with employers are exciting and have
received great feedback.


Our aim remains to deliver 2012 jobs in 2012 and to grow our
Apprenticeship Academies significantly over the next two years


]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 09:52:22 +0000http://www.3aaa.co.uk/1/post/2012/05/2012-2012-update.htmlFollowing the launch of our 2012/2012 campaign, we are pleased to provide an
update.


Over 900 jobs have been created since the launch of our campaign. We welcome
many new employers, including many large employers such as Santander. We are
particularly delighted that many SME’s have embraced our models and continue to
provide opportunities by employing Apprentices as a first step on their
careers.



]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 09:51:48 +0000http://www.3aaa.co.uk/1/post/2012/05/calling-young-people.htmlWe are actively recruiting ambitious young people onto all of our programmes
across the country. Please contact us if you want a career in either IT, Estate
Agency or Accountancy.]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 09:49:43 +0000http://www.3aaa.co.uk/1/post/2012/05/new-academies-in-nottingham-and-liverpool.htmlWatch this space for new academy openings in Nottingham and Liverpool over the
next three months
]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 09:48:57 +0000http://www.3aaa.co.uk/1/post/2012/05/nft-commit-to-young-peoples-apprenticeship-programme.htmlWe are delighted to announce that one of our long term employers, NFT have
committed to the development and launch of an Apprenticeship programme for young
people. We have been working with NFT for over 18 months on this development
which has widespread application into other logistics operations. NFT have
committed to take over 40 Apprentices per annum, with our first groups planned
to commence this July.


If you are interested in applying, please contact us on 07979857438. Location
will be Northampton. If you are an employer looking to develop Apprenticeship
programmes, contact us on the same number


]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 09:47:08 +0000http://www.3aaa.co.uk/1/post/2012/05/3aaa-host-ofsted-visit.htmlWe are delighted to have been able to support an OFSTED visit by two
inspectors to our Academies in Milton Keynes, Letchworth and Bedford on the 9th
May. The inspectors were looking at sub contracting arrangements. We found the
visit extremly helpful and positive to our future developments. Most
importantly, the inspectors saw real value in the partnerships we have jointly
created with our College partners.


Peter Marples commented ‘ the inspectors were thorough in their review. They
identified many good features of our existing Apprenticeship models, spoke to
both learners and employers and were able to fully understand our planned
developments. We also picked up some useful tips from them in terms of how we
continue to develop our Quality assurance processes and enhance the experiences
of the Apprentices, particularly when with their employers. Whilst an OFSTED
visit is always a challenges and stressful, we all gained real value from the
visit’


]]>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:43:50 +0000http://www.3aaa.co.uk/1/post/2012/02/20122012-update.htmlFollowing the launch of the 2012 / 2012 campaign, we are delighted to provide an update.

 

During apprenticeship week – commencing 6th February, over 125 employers committed to create immediate job opportunities for Apprentices across our Academies. We will be filling these posts over the next two weeks.

Since the launch of our campaign, only two months into the year, we are delighted to have secured over 400 job opportunities for APPRENTICES. These are sustainable jobs with committed businesses.

Furthermore, we have clear visibility of a further 150 job opportunities which we are confident of filling in the next 6 – 8 weeks.

We are hopeful of moving into May with over 800 vacancies identified and filled with committed employers

Peter Marples commented ‘ this is a tremendous start to our 2012 / 2012 campaign. There has been a tremendous response to our campaign and we are delighted to  be able to get more young people into work on their first step on their chosen careers. We could not have achieved this without the commitment of the employers we work with, many of them SME’s. If you want to support us and join the campaign, don’t hesitate to contact me directly on 07979857438’

]]>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:03:26 +0000http://www.3aaa.co.uk/1/post/2012/02/press-information-oxfordshire-business-amongst-first-to-join-campaign-to-create.html An ICT services and support business near Oxford has stood up and been counted as one of the first in the UK to join forces with a national training organisation which has committed to creating 2012 new jobs for young people in 2012.

ComputerPro, based in Kirtlington, north Oxfordshire has signed up to Aspire Achieve Advance Group Limited’s (3AAA) 2012|2012 challenge. 3AAA runs the National IT Partnership (NITP) academy at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College. Sixteen year old local lad Tommy O’Dwyer has been employed by ComputerPro as an NITP apprentice, working at the company whilst studying at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College.

Simon van Zwanenberg, owner of ComputerPro, states: “I began in a technology-based industry effectively as an apprentice. I have always appreciated the benefits of this approach to employment for both parties, and the introduction to the workplace that it provides. Signing up Tommy allows me to grow the business organically, whilst offering him the opportunity to learn and develop the required skills, and adapt to the culture and ethos we engender here.”

Di McEvoy-Robinson, Director, 3AAA, said: “With the government’s announcement that the unemployment rate in the 16-24 year-old age group is running at a record high of 22.3%, it’s essential that organisations such as ours step up and take responsibility for creating new jobs for young people.

“We are combining our experience and expertise in delivering high quality Apprenticeships, with our skills in sourcing capable young people to meet the recruitment requirements of our employer partners. We are creating completely new jobs that give young people a real future and employers a competent new member of their workforce equipped with up-to-date skills for the job.

“This is also our call to employers across the UK to help us realise our commitment of creating 2012 jobs in 2012 to make a real difference to the lives of young people all over the country.”

NITP academies provide apprentices with industry recognised IT qualifications, underpinned with the practical and valuable experience secured via employment as an apprentice.

3AAA’s 2012|2012 pledge kicks off with a series of employer events in Portsmouth designed to get local businesses to commit to creating new jobs for local school leavers. 3AAA’s campaign will run throughout 2012. Each region will be in competition to create the highest number of new jobs, with the top achieving region to be recognised at an awards celebration at the end of the year.

3AAA works in partnership with local colleges across the UK to deliver local solutions for young people, employers and adults learning in the workplace. NITP academies are located in Walsall, Tamworth, Bedford, Letchworth, St Albans, Enfield, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Birmingham.

For details of 3AAA’s 2012|2012 campaign and its Apprenticeship academies visit www.3aaa.co.uk




]]>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:59:36 +0000http://www.3aaa.co.uk/1/post/2012/02/mk-mps-applaud-bedford-college-44-jobs-created-via-apprenticeship-academy.htmlMPs and the Mayor of Milton Keynes congratulated Bedford College on the success of the new Apprenticeship Academy in MK.

The academy is run in partnership with a national organisation Aspire Achieve Advance Ltd (3AAA) to bring employers together with young people from the age of 16. The result has been 44 new jobs created to the end of January 2012 for aspiring young IT and accountancy professionals.

The academy in Silbury Boulevard can also boast 100% pass rates among 30 young people who are on this accounting apprenticeship endorsed by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).

These successes were acknowledged at the official opening of the academy in Silbury Boulevard on Thursday January 26th when dignitaries and employers gathered to hear more from speakers from Bedford College, 3AAA, AAT and CompTIA . Guests included: MP Mark Lancaster, MP Iain Aitken Stewart, and Mayor of Milton Keynes Cllr Alan Richards .

The academy brings under one roof two of the pioneering apprenticeship models developed by 3AAA:

NITP - National IT Partnership - Microsoft and CompTIA accredited

AAP - Accounting Academy Partnership - AAT accredited

Bedford College Principal Ian Pryce said: “Since opening in September 2011 our partners 3AAA have been working hard to engage with employers so they see the value of our this new approach to apprenticeships. The 44 new jobs which have been created since we opened, as a result of that ground work, were not vacancies being advertised, but new posts where the recruitment team have shown employers how their business can benefit from engaging a bright young apprentice.”

The format of these apprenticeships have been tried and tested across the UK by 3AAA and been acknowledged nationally. Bedford College has a NITP establishment within its Bedford campus which has been successfully linking young people with employers across Bedfordshire.

Jane Scott Paul OBE CEO of AAT applauded the accountancy course: “We have the worst youth unemployment figures in memory but courses such as this which offer accelerated completion without compromising standards will young people into jobs. Such apprenticeships give employers qualified, confident and competent staff members.”

Mark Lancaster MP said:

“I’m an enormous fan of the apprenticeship programme.“

In my other life I work in the fireworks business with my father the famous Rev Lancaster, vicar of Kimbolton and maker of fireworks. I have taken great pleasure on New Year’s Eve, whilst standing by Big Ben, seeing one of our apprentices press the button that sets the fireworks off in London.

“The series of courses on offer at the Academy offers a great contribution to the expansion of Milton Keynes.

“Apprenticeships must be demand driven and the Academy is a shining example of what Bedford College and 3AAA can produce.”

Iain Aitken Stewart MP added:

“I am a huge supporter of apprenticeships and for too long they have been undervalued as a training option, particularly for young people leaving school.

“I want apprenticeships to be a valued option for students leaving school.

“Apprenticeships have to be flexible and tailored to the needs of employers.”

Mayor Cllr Alan Richards thanked employers for attending :”For our town, or we hope soon City, to go forward we need the support of entrepreneurs to provide employment for our young people. I congratulate Bedford College on this academy.”

Employers and apprentices talking about their academy experiences:

Michael Glossop of miltonkeynes.com explained that his company runs a community website, builds websites and offers print and design and promotional services to local businesses.  

He said: “Apprentice Sonny Darriba has been a real asset to the business, working on web editing and programming. He truly excels at graphic design. I would advise other businesses to consider taking on apprentices – my experience has been very positive.”

Sonny added: “The apprenticeship means I can earn money whilst working and learning. I’m get a lot out of it.”

Trevor Millward of Vending Warehouse provides a vending machine service to both Bedford College and the Academy in Milton Keynes.  

He explained: “Mark Williams, Academy Manager, persuaded me to take on an apprentice and I haven’t looked back since. Apprentice Paul Rothesay has developed websites and has lots of innovative ideas and self drive. His work has opened up new business avenues and opportunities for the business.”

Paul added: “I am enjoying working and training, especially as I achieve new qualifications every week.”

]]>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:51:28 +0000http://www.3aaa.co.uk/1/post/2012/02/press-information-portsmouth-business-amongst-first-to-join-campaign-to-create.htmlA specialist exhaust business in Portsmouth has stood up and been counted as one of the first in the UK to join forces with a national training organisation which has committed to creating 2012 new jobs for young people in 2012.

European Exhaust & Catalyst Limited (EEC), based in Portsmouth, has signed up to Aspire Achieve Advance Group Limited’s (3AAA) 2012|2012 challenge. 3AAA runs the National IT Partnership (NITP) academy at Highbury College in Portsmouth. Eighteen year old Tim Green from Portsmouth has been employed by EEC as an NITP apprentice, working at the company whilst studying at Highbury College.

Paul Clark, Managing Director, European Exhaust & Catalyst Limited, says: “We are committed to developing the skills of our staff and are delighted to have the opportunity to take on a new employee through the apprenticeship scheme. Young people need all the help they can get in these challenging times and organisations such as 3AAA are taking the lead. It is up to companies like ours to provide the opportunities for young people to gain real skills and make a valuable contribution to the wide economy.”

Di McEvoy-Robinson, Director, 3AAA, said: “With the government’s announcement that the unemployment rate in the 16-24 year-old age group is running at a record high of 22.3%, it’s essential that organisations such as ours step up and take responsibility for creating new jobs for young people.

“We are combining our experience and expertise in delivering high quality Apprenticeships, with our skills in sourcing capable young people to meet the recruitment requirements of our employer partners. We are creating completely new jobs that give young people a real future and employers a competent new member of their workforce equipped with up-to-date skills for the job.

“This is also our call to employers across the UK to help us realise our commitment of creating 2012 jobs in 2012 to make a real difference to the lives of young people all over the country.”

NITP academies provide apprentices with industry recognised IT qualifications, underpinned with the practical and valuable experience secured via employment as an apprentice.

3AAA’s 2012|2012 pledge kicks off with a series of employer events in Portsmouth designed to get local businesses to commit to creating new jobs for local school leavers. 3AAA’s campaign will run throughout 2012. Each region will be in competition to create the highest number of new jobs, with the top achieving region to be recognised at an awards celebration at the end of the year.

3AAA works in partnership with local colleges across the UK to deliver local solutions for young people, employers and adults learning in the workplace. NITP academies are located in Walsall, Tamworth, Bedford, Letchworth, St Albans, Enfield, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Birmingham.

For details of 3AAA’s 2012|2012 campaign and its Apprenticeship academies visit www.3aaa.co.uk


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