Apprentice scheme wins award for innovation
Top Prize for HR! Northumbria University has been awarded a top prize at the Universities Personnel Association’s HR Excellence Awards for its innovative and excellent activity in developing a scheme to recruit and train apprentices.
Northumbria’s Apprenticeship Framework, which was developed in 2007 to recruit and train young people in core technical areas of the University’s business, has enabled Northumbria to work with local training providers to recruit ten apprentices, who are working in engineering, science and administration roles at the University.
Northumbria is one of the few universities in the sector to adopt an apprenticeship model as a viable way of recruiting and developing staff with relevant vocational skills.
Jane Embley, Director of Human Resources, collected the award at the Universities Personnel Association’s Annual Conference earlier this month (pictured collecting the award).
She said: “The Apprenticeship Framework was developed in response to a need to cultivate high quality vocationally-based skills.
“By establishing the Framework, to enable the appointment of apprentices, we have introduced a different method of recruitment, which compliments our more established methods.
“The University’s Schools and Service Departments have quickly realised that the apprenticeship model enables the development of a positive grow-your-own culture, which is showing solid signs of success with our apprentices demonstrating their abilities both through assessment and in their on-the-job performance.”
Georgia Pickersgill, 17 (pictured in the lab with her manager
Dave Wealleans), who has been an apprentice in the School of Applied Sciences
for almost a year, said: “I came into the role straight from school as I wanted
to continue learning but also earn money at the same time.“I’ve definitely matured and I have improved my skills in the area. It’s been really good for me and I’d love to stay on if I‘m offered a job at the end of it.”
Georgia’s line manager, Dave Wealleans, added: “From a manager's perspective, Georgia has surpassed my hopes and expectations. The scheme is something I'd like to continue once Georgia has ‘graduated’ and hopefully taken-up a permanent position within the team.
“One of the good things about this initiative is the arrangement for a member of the existing team to act as Georgia’s mentor, allowing the mentor to develop their skills also.
“I’m impressed by how much all parties can benefit.”
Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: “It is important that we continue to develop our recruitment methods and grow the skills and competencies of our staff to meet the diverse needs of the University.
“The Apprenticeship Framework provides more flexible career access routes for those interested in working in the higher education sector and further supports our intention to be an employer of choice”.
The Excellence Awards were judged by leading figures in the Human Resources and Higher Education fields, including Will Hutton, CEO of The Work Foundation, Bill Wakeham, Chair of the UCEA Board and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton and Linda Holbeche, Director of Policy and Research at the CIPD.
Date posted: June 8, 2009
