Apprenticeships have been in the news a lot recently and last week saw the number of apprentices starting their training at Truro and Penwith College more than double with a 127 per cent increase.

With apprenticeships in such a wide range of job roles from engineering to hairdressing and accountancy to marketing, they are becoming an increasingly popular choice for employers to train both new recruits and current employees.

For young people looking to start their first job or for people looking to retrain, again apprenticeships make sense and the college had seen a significant increase in people registering with them for apprenticeship jobs.

As jobs are added daily, the college’s recruitment team is working to match candidates to a large number of additional vacancies in areas including hospitality, IT, construction, business and retail.

Head of Truro and Penwith Business, Tamsyn Harris says it was fantastic to see so many new Apprentices at Truro and Penwith College’s apprentice start days.

“Businesses are increasingly taking on apprentices to tackle skills shortages and grow their own talent as well as placing current employees on apprenticeship programmes to upskill and prepare them for more responsibility, all of which ultimately positively impacts on their bottom line,” she said.

Helen Hood, manager and apprentice co-ordinator at Lang Bennetts, is an employer who has experienced these benefits first hand. “We have seen a shy person who knew little about the business community, grow and mature over the last two years, into someone who is confident, diligent and commercially aware," she said. "Since our apprentice Kate has been part of the team we have seen turnover growth of more than ten per cent per year, each year. Kate has been part of that success.”

The wide-ranging appeal of apprenticeships can be noted in the diversity of the new apprentices at the college. Among those who had their induction was Nathan Pursell, a 36-year-old working in maintenance for Watergate Bay Hotel. When the hotel suggested he took on the Level 2 maintenance operations diploma apprenticeship he was keen to take up the opportunity.

Shannen O’Regan decided on an apprenticeship after finishing her GCSEs, aiming to build her “experience and confidence working in the industry within a real working environment.”

Seventeen-year-old Cameron Jacka from Redruth didn’t know what he wanted to do after his GCSEs. He worked on site for Giles Corby of Corby Construction and discovered an interest in bricklaying.

Corby Construction, a keen supporter of apprenticeships, suggested Cameron should take on the Level 2 bricklaying diploma at Truro and Penwith College. Cameron admits that “there’s a lot more I can get out of my apprenticeship at college than I had imagined. I can add courses such as plastering and get skills and trades under my belt,” he said. “I like still being able to earn while getting hands on experience and I am expecting to get quite a bit out of my apprenticeship.”

Giles has previously stated the need for more apprentices. “There’s going to be plenty of work in Cornwall so these students are going to have plenty to do,” he said. “There’s a shortage of trades and skilled workers who can build the homes needed in the county.”

Anyone interested in apprenticeships should contact Truro and Penwith College Business on 01872 242711 or email apprenticeships@truro-penwith.ac.uk.