Head of Skills at Business West, Nicky Williams has been appointed ‘Vice Chair of the South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network’.
The South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (SWAAN) is a group of engaged and enthusiastic local employers and their apprentices eager to spread the word about apprenticeships.
Funded by national government, the Network aims to inspire and influence business leaders to hire more apprentices by raising awareness of their benefits for employers, communities, and individuals.
Ambassadors are from a variety of different industries, and undertake their role on a voluntary basis by supporting and influencing a wide range of key stakeholders including schools, colleges, local enterprise partnerships, employers and their supply chains, trade associations and employment bodies. They champion and support marketing, publicity and events to raise awareness of apprenticeships and also mentor other employers.
As Vice Chair, Nicky will work alongside Nigel Fenn, Organisation & Employee Development Manager at Wessex Water, and Emma Cox, Talent Development Manager at Thatchers Cider, to build on and accelerate efforts to boost apprenticeship starts in the region.
Nigel Fenn, Organisation & Employee Development Manager at Wessex Water and Chair of SWAAN, said:
“Business West has been a proactive Apprenticeship Ambassador for the last 5 years. Although they have a small apprenticeship programme it is their ability to connect across their four combined local authorities and into other business networks that has worked very effectively to grow our SWAAN membership and reach. It is as a result of previous successful business solution projects that our ambassador network is now working with West of England Local Enterprise Partnership and the Western Training Provider Network. We have been able to engage with the wider private and college based training providers as well as work in partnership with the Careers and Enterprise Company Careers Hubs, managed by the WoE LEP which has resulted in better schools engagement and an increase in membership of our Young Ambassador Network in the South West. That being so, I am delighted to have Nicky on board.”
To find out more about how Business West can help your business with apprenticeships visit https://www.businesswest.co.uk/grow/skills/apprenticeships, call 0330 124 4446 or email skills@businesswest.co.uk
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