Diversity in training

Wednesday 08 February 2023

The apprentice programmes at the Guernsey College of Further Education are helping to grow an increasingly diverse workforce across numerous industries.

Having expanded from the initial offering of just construction and engineering in the late 1940s to the wide ranging programme available today, the College Principal said the number of women on the traditionally male orientated courses are increasing, and vice versa.

Louse Misselke said the available courses are open to people of all genders, as well as all ages - with the average age of apprentices around 26, while the oldest is currently around 54.

Mrs Misselke said the diversity among her student body is something she is very proud of.

Pictured: Louise Misselke, Principal of the Guernsey College of Further Eduction, The Guernsey Institute.

"We do have female students working in construction and engineering," she said, "but we'd like more, and I think the industry would like more too.

"We also have got a variety of different apprenticeships we offer, such as retail, early years and the adult care apprentices - they are often more female orientated, but not always."

There are no barriers to any student, male or female, on any of the courses - with each prospective student's application considered. Would-be students need to sign up with an employer partner to enrol on their course and the College staff can help with that.

Mrs Missekle said that by encouraging diversity they are able to reap the benefits. The positive impact of that is evident in many ways - including when the college partakes in events such as International Women in Engineering Day.

"An event we usually host on an annual basis (...IWE...) and it is about encouraging more young women and girls into engineering and STEM subjects.

"We know that diversity in a workforce brings so much in different ways of thinking and different ways of seeing problems and a really good creative ambitious workforce is a diverse workforce.

"There should be no barrier for anyone whose interested in gaining those professional skills and entering an industry, and I know our employer partners would be saying exactly the same thing."

To hear our interview with Mrs Misselke in full, click below: