Apprentice successes put in spotlight by award-winning Aspire for National Apprenticeship Week

Young apprentices trained by multi-award winning education and training provider Aspire Active Education Group are encouraging others to follow in their footsteps as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

Birmingham-based Aspire has tripled its apprentice training levels in recent years, helping young people like Lara Etches and Molly Shuttleworth to change their lives through getting on the employment ladder via on the job paid vocational training.

The Aspire group’s learning arm Aspire Training Solutions team deliver sustainable workforce development plans through apprenticeship training for 52 organisations, with 150 learners enrolled, up from 45 in 2019.

Aspire received a successful monitoring visit from Ofsted in April 2021, with the parent group landing three leading awards in one night for their work tackling child inactivity and creating employment for young people.

In November Aspire Active Education Group won the community impact award at the Business Desk West Midlands Business Masters awards along with the training provider of the year and education engagement awards at the Greater Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards.

This year’s National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), which will take place between 7 and 13 February, has the theme of “Build the Future”.

The 15th annual week-long celebration will take place across England, encouraging individuals of any age to reach their career goals by building their skills and knowledge through an apprenticeship.

Having excelled in her role of supporting educators in schools through the KickStart employment scheme, Lara Etches was offered the opportunity to do the Level 2 Community Activator Coach apprenticeship with Aspire.

“Doing an apprenticeship gives me the qualifications and work experience I need to set me on the career path of becoming a PE teacher,” she says.

“At the beginning of my apprenticeship I was shadowing different educators which provided me with the experience to then go on to do my own lunch and after school clubs. Eventually I would like to go on to a Level 3 and possibly a teaching degree at university.”

When asked if she had any advice for future apprentices, Lara responded: “I would say just do it. I’ve had many benefits from it and I reckon you will too.”

Fellow apprentice Molly Shuttleworth added: “I 100% would recommend doing an apprenticeship. I think that it’s a great decision I’ve made for myself, so I think it would be for anyone else as well.”

After graduating university with a Sports Psychology degree, Molly joined Aspire through the Kickstart Scheme and has since started the Level 4 Sports Coach apprenticeship. She said: “The apprenticeship allows me to get the experience in a practical way, as well as really honing my understanding of the theories and putting them into practice in schools.

“The benefit of an apprenticeship is that the work is more spread out so it’s easier to manage in the deadlines that you have. The hope for my future is that I am able to set up my own camps and clubs specifically supporting pupil premium students and those that may have missed out on opportunities.”

Based in Spitfire Road and with 44 staff, Aspire provide innovative delivery and training services along with education resources to inspire children and young people to be more active, more often. The Aspire aim is to “end physical inactivity forever” and help one million children move by 2024.

Aspire have a host of National Apprenticeship Week action planned including advice guides from Nikki Clamp, Business Development and Project Manager at Aspire Training Solutions Ltd, on Tuesday.

Nikki said: “As an award-winning training provider in the sports and physical activity sector, Aspire staff feel so excited about the opportunity to shout about our bespoke apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week.

“As the economy recovers from the pandemic, we want to engage with the widest possible audiences about the benefits of apprenticeships both for the apprentices and for employers. Each year we see lives transformed for apprentices who report feeling more secure about their future because they have job stability, an employer commitment to them and a clear plan for their role and development.”

Other events planned include the chance to hear from an apprentice on what to expect from an apprenticeship, showcases for Aspire tutors and a graduation day for this year’s achievers, as well as a parents and carers day and Selfie Sunday.

Aspire has grown its reputation within the physical activity and training sectors. In September, the company was named a winner in the Lloyds Bank Small Business of 2021 awards, which honour businesses across the UK.