WESTON COLLEGE APPRENTICES NOW LEARNING AND EARNING ACROSS THE SOUTH WEST FROM CORNWALL TO GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Weston College has extended its Apprenticeship scheme to Cornwall and now offers more than 50 Apprenticeships and supports 1,500 Apprentices in the South West including Devon, Dorset, Bristol and Gloucestershire.

Apprentice Maddy Sutton is one of a rising number of A-Level students across the South West who have chosen work-based training instead of university.

Maddy, 19, began an Advanced Apprenticeship in the Product Development and Technical Support Team of Barnstaple-based pharmaceutical company Actavis UK Ltd.

With more than 600 employees, Actavis UK is one of the largest generic UK medicine manufacturers and has taken on 10 apprentices since 2011.

Actavis UK Technical Transfer Manager, Hilary Jeffreys, said: "We wanted to recruit local talent which we could develop within the business.  Weston College's Apprenticeship programme has helped support this aim."

A new Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) scheme offers up to 40,000, single payment grants of £1500 to encourage and support employers taking on an Apprentice aged 16 to 24.

Employers will be able to claim grants for up to 10 apprentices and the grant will be made available to businesses with up to 1,000 employees.

Weston College Business Enterprise Centre Account Coordinator, Christopher Batt, said: "There's been a very steady increase in the number and geographical area covered by our Apprenticeships because people see them as an excellent way to launch a career and learn while earning."

Actavis UK Technical Support Manager, Bill Thorne, said: "Maddy is an excellent team player and has very quickly acquired the skills and knowledge vital to her role."

"In just a year Maddy has already been involved with several projects that have led to efficiency improvements for our company."

Maddy added: "I was keen to start a career in science but increased tuition fees put me off going to university.

"An advanced Apprenticeship programme, with a monthly on-site visit from my Assessor is an great way of working towards a degree and being paid to study."

For more information on Weston College's Business Enterprise Centre call 01934 411 594 or call 01934 411411 for general information of go to www.weston.ac.uk.