- The Army is always recruiting for HR apprentices
- More than 100 Army recruiting events taking place around the country for potential apprentices to find out more
- Army extends opening hours at careers centres for National Apprenticeship Week
- More than 5,500 apprentices set to complete their training this year alone
HR apprentice, Yudip Tumrok has been chosen as an ambassador for the British Army’s apprenticeship programme, to help highlight the fact that the Army runs the largest employer apprenticeship scheme in the UK, providing career enhancing qualifications to the next generation of HR specialists. The announcement comes as research has shown that three in five people are not aware of the HR roles available with the Army.
Yudip Tumrok, 21 years old, is training for a foundation degree in human resource practice. As part of National Apprenticeship Week, he was selected to attend a celebratory event at Army headquarters led by the Adjutant General, which brought together apprentices from across the country to showcase each of the 47 apprenticeship programmes the Army runs.
As the country celebrates National Apprenticeship Week, research commissioned by the UK’s largest employer of apprenticeships, the British Army, has revealed that apprentices are happier with the training and development they are offered in their careers than their peers who have graduated from university or who are doing internships.
One in three apprentices questioned as part of a survey of 3,000 employees in the UK said that the financial investment in their training and personal development by their employers was the highest source of career satisfaction for them, compared with just one in 10 graduates and interns who said the same. In fact, nine in 10 graduates and interns feel that the cost of professional qualifications is holding them back in their careers, more than any other job level.
Lance Corporal Yudip Tumrok, 21, is training for a FdA HRP in Foundation Degree Arts Human Resource Practice. He said, “Before joining the Army I only had my GCSEs - now I am on an apprenticeship programme where I am training towards an NVQ. My NVQ will be recognised by civilian companies so it’s reassuring to know the training I’m receiving is for life, not just for the Army. I’ve also become more confident since working on my Army apprenticeship. It’s not just about the hard work though. Being able to do both adventure and educational courses is the best thing about the Army – gaining more knowledge and experience. It gives you the opportunity to do sports, learn, travel, face challenges and meet people.”
When asked what was missing from their careers, the top response among apprentices was a clear long-term career plan (39 per cent), ahead of the chance to travel (27 per cent) and a challenging and exciting role (13 per cent). The British Army, which has over 40 different apprenticeship schemes for specialists including catering, IT, bricklaying, logistics, construction, engineering and animal care, gives paid training to all its apprentices and offers a clearly defined career path, with a good salary and regular opportunities for promotion. It also has unparalleled opportunities to travel with work and offers challenge and excitement.
Over 5,500 Army apprentices are set to complete their training this year alone, and around 20,000 are currently going through the Army’s apprenticeship programmes.
Brigadier John Ogden, Director of Operations, Army Recruiting Group, said: “The Army provides world-class training in a range of exciting roles, whether you have ambitions to be a chef, an engineer, a mechanic, a welder or a IT Specialist. Our apprentices get unrivalled opportunities to travel the world, take part in adventurous training and earn a good wage, while benefiting from a high level of personal investment and training that very few other employers can provide. Our unique offer means our apprentices can grow their confidence and gain qualifications which apply to civilian careers, and knowing they’re doing something meaningful with their lives.
“No matter what your background the Army has something to offer you, whether you’re a school-leaver or not planning to attend university, and our apprenticeship success rate typically exceeds the national average by 15%. With unemployment among young people still very high, the Army is playing a significant role in providing the younger generation with skills for life.”
National Apprenticeship Week runs from 9 to 13 March 2015 and celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
More than 100 Army recruitment events are taking place across the country this month, to give people who might be interested in joining the Army as an apprentice the chance to find out more. Ranging from jobs fairs to school visits and from webchats to skills presentations, local Army soldiers and officers will be on hand to answer questions and advise potential apprentices of all trades how to apply.
The Army will also be running extended opening times at selected Army Careers Centres (ACCs) on Saturday 14 March. 14 ACCs throughout the UK will be extending their opening hours from 10.00 to 17.00 (09:00-17:00 for ACCs in London and East), to make it easier for potential apprentices to speak with Army recruitment officers about the 47 different apprenticeship programmes available.
For more information about the exciting and rewarding apprenticeship programmes available with the Army, visit www.army.mod.uk/jobs, search Army Apprenticeships or call 0845 600 8080.
The research showed that graduates and interns are also more likely to have missed out on their dream career than apprentices, with three in five saying that they had considered a different career but had been held back by the lack of necessary training or qualifications, compared to half of apprentices.
