Apprentices learning the ropes at Barchester

Barchester care homes around the UK are hosting events to celebrate the talents and skills of their valued apprentices and engage with the local workforce for this year’s national Apprenticeship Week.

Barchester has run a successful and expanding apprenticeship programme for eight years and now has 1,000 participating apprentices. The company offers a range of apprenticeships from care through to administration to individuals aged 16 and above, and more than 20 percent of those employed on the programme are under 19 years old.

Today, two young care apprentices at The Field House in Shropshire, Kerry Edwards,16, and Sophie Hosienne,17, along with their mentor and General Manager Anne Dunn, have been invited by Skills for Care to meet the Care Services Minister Paul Burstow MP.

Paul Middleton, Head of Vocational Qualifications at Barchester, said: “Many apprentice-related events have been organised to encourage others to consider an apprenticeship in care and celebrate the achievements of our apprentices company-wide.

“There are lots of opportunities with Barchester and we are especially keen to offer younger people the chance to come on board and learn new skills in health and social care across many disciplines.”

Several events scheduled this week include two teams of apprentices at Red Oaks care home in West Sussex making and selling cakes against each other apprentice style, while the general manager at Windmill Manor care home in Surrey is doing a job swap with a kitchen apprentice for the morning.

Barchester also recently signed up to delivering 900 work experience placements for 12 weeks for 16-24 year olds. The first of the 450 placements will start in April and the rest will follow in September.  These placements will be offered to those that are not in education, employment or training. If Barchester, as employer, feels the individual is a good fit, the work experience could lead to an apprenticeship with the company.