Tees Business #4 | Page 14

14 | Tees Business Evolution apprentice Danielle Keighley. Working with Middlesbrough College adds up to apprenticeship success Middlesbrough College works with hundreds of employers and trains more than 1,000 apprentices every year in a wide range of sectors. T he numbers make the college the leading provider of apprenticeships in the Tees Valley. The opening of an employer-led £20m STEM Centre at the Middlehaven campus, delivering world-class training in science, technology, engineering and maths, means that number is set to increase. Danielle Keighley is one of those on an apprenticeship training programme. The 20-year-old from Hartlepool is studying an AAT Accountancy Level 4 Higher Level Apprenticeship, having already completed AAT levels 2 and 3. Danielle is employed by business, financial and tax experts Evolution LLP, based at Wynyard, which means she is receiving training from the best in the business. Her training is supported by experts at Middlesbrough College, which also manages the regular assessments which are part of the requirements of an apprenticeship. Martin Barber, managing partner at Evolution, said: “We employ only brilliant, worldly, entrepreneurial individuals and Danielle is already proving herself a valuable addition to the team. “Middlesbrough College has made the process of recruiting and training an apprentice as painless as possible and the level of support provided is superb. “In fact we have another three apprentices at Evolution, two of which are from Middlesbrough College.” Apprentices like Danielle receive training to develop knowledge, skills and understanding so they fast become valuable members of any workforce. The college team helps companies find the right candidate for the right task. It makes the process as easy as possible for employers across a wide range of sectors, including health and care, hospitality and catering, hair and beauty, construction, engineering and computing. Danielle said: “The level of training on offer from the college and Evolution is everything I could have asked for, I’m working towards the career I want and I’m earning at the same time. “An apprenticeship was definitely the right route for me.” Many companies qualify for financial help when taking on an apprentice and employers are guided through every step of the process – from recruiting the right candidate to making sure they receive the right training. Recent figures show that more than 80% of employers with apprentices say they make their workplace more productive. For more information about how Middlesbrough College can help with apprentices visit www.mbro.ac.uk or call 01642 333322 or email [email protected] Recent figures show that more than 80% of employers with apprentices say they make their workplace more productive.