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As part of National Apprenticeship Week, The Guernsey Institute is highlighting new higher education opportunities now available locally.
This follows a year in which Guernsey's highly-rated apprenticeship scheme recorded an overall achievement rate of nearly 95%.
Currently, a higher education apprenticeship is offered in construction. But there is demand from industry to deliver more advanced courses in other sectors and The Guernsey Institute is working to develop those courses in addition to the full range of Level Two and Three courses offered.
Chris Torode, Director of Apprenticeships, told Express that The Guernsey Institute is committed to developing "accessibility for degree level apprenticeships, which tie in with the education strategy and the skills strategy...[and] there are now proposals to extend the grant opportunity for those coming through apprenticeships who want degree-level provision in the island".
“With the Institute of Health Studies, the GTA and the Guernsey Institute, we are driving towards ‘Guernsey University’ status,” said Mr Torode.
Partnerships between the public and private sectors - which are key to the success of the island's apprenticeship scheme - help make the courses sustainable to run and provide an extensive and varied learning experience for students.
Ruth Taylor, an Apprenticeship Officer at the The Guernsey Institute, said: “There’s so much more synergy - pooled resources offer much better opportunities to students.”
Pictured: Carpentry apprentices studying for their Level Three and Chartered Institute of Building qualifications at The Guernsey Institute.
One area where there has been development recently is in child and adult care courses. The Guernsey Institute now offers full-time training with apprenticeships seen as practical to the demands of the care industry.
Mr Torode said such changes to the courses offered are driven primarily by the wishes of industry. “There’s been lots of demand, lots of interest," he said.
Adult care courses are currently offered at Level Two and a Level Three childcare course launched recently.
“As with other industries, every sector is facing similar challenges in the island. The Guernsey Institute can provide for those sectors, upskilling and contributing to the island,” said Mr Torode.
Anne Liu, who works at Elizabeth College Pre-School, is delighted with the new Level Three childcare course.
“Being in the environment gives students the chance to stop and ask a question, which provides the work mindset," said Ms Liu.
She said the school has set up a small library which apprentices can access to help their learning and development whilst on the job.
Pictured: Higher level courses relating to the care and education of children are important areas of growth for The Guernsey Institute.
Express spoke to two students currently working in schools on the Level Three course. They said they are enjoying their learning and the opportunity to receive training in the workplace and in the classroom.
Imogen Wegerer said she “wanted to learn and become more aware about childcare".
Heidi Shearer started the course last September. It normally lasts two years. She hopes to be qualified by autumn 2023.
Ms Shearer said that Tuesday evenings are spent at The Guernsey Institute site for more formal studies and the rest of the week is spent at the school with three hours per day allocated for studying.
“Everyone else [employed at the school] has the Level Three, so it’s bringing everyone up to the same standard,” she said.
Pictured: The Coutanchez site offers professional workspaces to develop industry-specific skills.
Retail is another sector in demand of qualifications, said Mr Torode. The Guernsey Institute offers a Level Two course in retail and hopes to start a Level Three course in September this year “once there is an adequate cohort there".
“There was a demand from employers for Level Three, which is more down the supervisory route," said Mr Torode.
Many local retailers are supportive of the work to develop retail qualifications. For example, Ian Brown’s Cycle Shop told Express that it was particularly happy about the new opportunities available to students looking seriously at retail work.
"Retail is a career choice and in any other industry, such as carpentry or engineering, there is an option for apprenticeships," said a spokesman for Ian Brown's.
“We saw the apprentice for retail as a key thing for our business. Hopefully, this will lead to more people getting more customer-facing experience, and in the future we would look to use the scheme again.”
Pictured: Principal Louise Misselke said The Guernsey Institute is continually looking at ways to develop and enhance the island's successful apprenticeship scheme.
Louise Misselke, Principal of the College of Further Education, now part of The Guernsey Institute, is pleased about the new opportunities for prospective employers and employees.
“We know from global research and key stakeholders that there is a demand for higher level technical skills,” said Ms Misselke.
“We also know the skills people have now might not be the required skills going forward.
“We are working with employers to establish where further provisions are required and how to deliver them.”
Pictured below: The wide range of facilities available to apprentices at The Guernsey Institute's Coutanchez campus.
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