Apprenticeships at Blackburn College

Blackburn College has a long established track record of successfully providing specialist industry courses and professional qualifications, delivered by our University Centre.

In recent years our professional services offer has extended to include Higher level Apprenticeships, including Commercial Procurement and Supply (CIPS), HR Consultant / Partner (CIPD) and Management (ILM).

Apprenticeships in Accountancy provide a further popular route into that profession and new Apprenticeships such as Chartered Legal Executive on the horizon mean that the offer for the Financial and Professional Services sector is booming.

Are apprenticeships suitable for my business?

The scope of apprenticeships has widened a great deal in recent years, far beyond the ‘traditional’ industries of previous generations. For example, apprenticeships are an excellent route into financial and professional services - especially when studied at higher levels (4, 5, 6 or 7) as they’re the equivalent to a degree.

The mix of hands-on experience with classroom learning is giving individuals a great head start to their careers. And apprenticeships aren’t just for hiring new staff, they are also great for upskilling your team.

So whether you’re looking to take on new staff or develop your existing talent, apprenticeships can be an effective way of reaching those goals.

What options are available to individuals already holding degrees?

As an employer looking to take on an individual who already holds a degree, you may struggle to access funding. However, there are exceptions! Particularly where the apprenticeship is substantially different from their degree topics - so it’s always worth checking.

Is it expensive?

There is support available for employers who are investing in apprentices. In fact, many levy paying companies have transferred their learning and development budgets across to apprenticeships and using their levy account to train their staff in a more cost-effective way.

Hannah Baker Business development manager, Apprenticeships Blackburn College T: 01254 292500 W: blackburn.ac.uk/apprenticeships