The £15k a year apprenticeship that failed to receive one response
Training provider Remit is offering one young person aged 18-24 the chance to be a sales apprentice at the Sytner Mercedes Benz showroom in Newbury’s London Road.
Despite offering full-time employment with a chance to earn £15,000 from day one - as well as a bonus on completing the two-year qualification - with nationally recognised qualifications, not a single person has applied.
The role has been advertised on the National Apprenticeship Website and at local job and community centres since mid July.
Recruitment director for Remit, Mick Pilling, said: “We are a bit bewildered as to why we are not getting applicants for this position in Newbury. In other parts of the country these apprenticeships attract large numbers.
“There will be a lot of young people in Newbury thinking about their future over the next couple of weeks, and I would encourage those who might be interested to contact us and find out more.”
The value of the apprenticeship was highlighted by the firm’s current apprentice, Andrew Keavney (pictured), aged 20 from Thatcham.
He said: “I've been here for a year now and this apprenticeship has so far been fantastic. I'm enjoying my job and the training itself.
"Not only am I getting my qualifications and learning the role of a sales executive, I've been employed from day one and have a fantastic salary and benefits package, which doesn't compare to other apprenticeships.
"I would urge any young people who are waiting for their results, and have not yet decided what their next move is, to fill in an application form as soon as possible."
Life and career choices will be at the forefront of young people’s minds this week when they receive their A level results today (Thursday) and GCSEs next week.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that 340 people in West Berkshire aged between 18 and 24 claimed Jobseekers Allowance in July - 3.1 per cent below the national average.
The figures show a fall from 455 in July last year but up by 4.61 per cent in June 2013.
The fall in young people applying for apprenticeships has also felt by a local agency.
Managing director of the West Berkshire Training Consortium, Matt Garvey, said the number of school leavers applying for apprenticeships with the consortium had halved in the last year.
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In 2012 the number of applicants for each vacancy stood at six apprentices but in 2013 this had dropped to three.
Twenty employers are currently recruiting for 45 different apprenticeship vancancies.
The number of young people attending their recruitment day had also declined - from 60 in 2012 to 24 in 2013.
“Last year we had a large number of applications and this year it’s proving much more challenging - we’re talking companies that are well known locally. In the past these positions would go really quickly, young people would be biting our hands off.
“Employers are starting to say ‘we will take on young people as the economy improves’ but young people aren’t applying.”
Mr Garvey said the fall could be attributed to new Government legislation, which comes into effect next month.
Young people will be required to continue learning until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17 under the new Raising the Participation Age. The law requires a young person to continue learning by either undertaking an apprenticeship, attending sixth form, or carrying out part-time learning while employed.
“People are calling it the
‘raising of the school leaving age’ but it’s called Raising the Participation Age and an apprenticeship has equal value in RPA,” Mr Garvey said.
He also said that the number of young people applying may drop next year as the age of RPA will rise to 18 next year.
Those applying for the Mercedes apprenticeship must have a valid UK driving licence and grades A-C in GCSE maths and English and be educated to at least A level standard.
The deadline for the application is August 31. To apply call Remit on 08458399200 or visit www.remit.co.uk
The Training Consortium can be contacted at www.wbtc-uk.com