How apprenticeships are helping to forge new careers

Apprenticeships are seen as a fantastic way for employers to train new staff cost-effectively.
Young apprentices make contributions to the workplace while they are learning, gaining skills on the job, and businesses can receive government incentives as well.
The Ladder for Shropshire is a one-stop-shop offering impartial advice and support to encourage employer, to offer more apprenticeships.
To illustrate why apprenticeships are such a great idea for both businesses and people of all ages, the Ladder recently caught up with some apprentices who were carving out a diverse range of great careers here in Shropshire.
FFION HOBBS, a Carpentry Apprentice at Shrewsbury Colleges Group
As an A-level student studying product design, I really enjoyed making things. It was this creative interest that I wanted to pursue and so, having moved to Shrewsbury in 2016, I signed up at the college for a level one course in carpentry.
In many ways, I was following a family tradition as my mum had enrolled to a building studies diploma and my grandfather had been the head of building back in the day.
In the following March, Shrewsbury College advertised a carpentry apprenticeship vacancy which I successfully applied for.
Focussing on bench joinery, this was ideal for me, offering a variety of work, assisting the technician at the college as well as making products such as window frames and staircases for the electrical department.
News Archive
- June 2022
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group students work with local organisation to provide anti-spiking lids
- Timetable changes during the beginning of July
- Shrewsbury students celebrate Pride Month with award-winning asexual activist Yasmin Benoit
- SCG Level 3 Business students secure prestigious jobs in accounting and finance
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group wins staff wellbeing prize at Shropshire Business Chamber Awards
- Painting and Decorating students gifted brand-new tool kits to celebrate their work volunteering for a Shrewsbury homeless charity
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group hosts successful events to inspire teenage girls to pursue careers in the construction industry
- London Road Campus will remain open through planned roadworks on Thursday 9 June
- May 2022
- SCG students visit Shrewsbury School for Maths lecture and a look at a first edition of Newton's Principia
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group launches new Neuroscience qualification designed for those who support babies or young children
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group provides further information about exam absence procedure for students
- SCG students achieve exceptional results in the Senior Physics Challenge
- Aquila Air Traffic Management trainees on course for the Falklands with Shrewsbury Colleges Group
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group provides further statement following security threat
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group launches Nursing Pathway course
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group responds to security threat
- April 2022
- Hospitality & Catering students offered jobs in award-winning Shrewsbury restaurants
- SCG Plumbing Apprentice wins place in the HIP Learner of the Year National Final
- SCG’s Outdoor Activities students brave snowy conditions in the Scottish mountains to learn winter survival skills
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group’s Women’s Rugby team reach the final 16 in the Rosslyn Park Sevens tournament
- Key dates for April, May and June
- Level 3 Massage Therapies students secure jobs at four-star spa resort
- March 2022
- Changes to bus routes starting after Easter
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group’s Media Statement on the Ukraine Crisis
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group’s Origins restaurant secures the highest accolade from the AA Colleges Rosette Scheme
- SCG A Level Music students perform in Shrewsbury Abbey
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group A Level students excel in nationwide Senior Maths Challenge
- Radbrook Foundation charity helps to fund new £150k Brickwork facility at Shrewsbury Colleges Group
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group celebrates women in construction for International Women’s Day 2022
- Ten Shrewsbury Colleges Group students offered places at Oxford and Cambridge universities
- February 2022
- COVID Update – 25 February 2022
- English Bridge and Welsh Bridge campuses closed due to floods
- SCG’s higher education Business students receive assignment help from an industry expert
- Summer 2022 Exams – Advance Information
- Former SCG student speaks to English Literature class about his starring roles on the West End
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group celebrates National Apprentice Week at All About Apprenticeships event
- January 2022
- SCG Business students raise over £1,000 for Hope House Children’s Hospices
- Young people in Shropshire have found life-changing jobs through Kickstart Scheme
- COVID Update – 17 January 2022
- OFSTED rate Shrewsbury Colleges Group Good with outstanding features
- COVID Update for coming to college in January 2022
- December 2021
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group installs over 700 solar panels to reduce carbon impact
- Travel & Tourism students land competitive cabin crew jobs straight out of college
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group student wins gold at Junior National Archery Championships
- Staying safe over Christmas
- College bus timetable information for the last day of term before Christmas
- New COVID information the introduction of Plan B for England
- Fashion & Textiles students run a pop-up shop in Shrewsbury to sell their original designs to the public
- Exams and assessment information for Year 2 academic subject students
- Painting & Decorating students volunteer their skills to help transform a derelict pub into a new centre for Shrewsbury homeless charity
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- Shropshire Health & Social Care students win places in the WorldSkills UK national final
- New Automotive Training Centre officially opens to train and upskill the local engineering and automotive workforce
- Shrewsbury Higher Education Graduation Ceremony acknowledges degree level qualifications
- College makes extra bus transport available from Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury in response to high student enrolment
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group offers COVID vaccinations for students
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group beats national average for higher education student satisfaction
- August 2021
- New term information for September 2021
- COVID Update for coming to college in September
- Cashless campuses for Shrewsbury Colleges Group who are embracing digital payments for students
- College students achieve fantastic A Level and Vocational results with high pass rate
- Results Day: College Statement and Apology
- July 2021
- Students from Shrewsbury Colleges Group awarded summer scholarships
- Shrewsbury College’s Group Engineering Apprenticeships officially recognised by professional body
- Former Shrewsbury Colleges Group student heading to Tokyo Olympics
- Strategic Development Fund to focus on the health and care sector
- Health career insights for students at Shrewsbury Colleges Group
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group continues to invest in London Road campus
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group students produce an Exhibition newspaper to replace annual exhibition
- Students enjoy full range of activities to kick off summer
- June 2021
- May 2021
- How apprenticeships are helping to forge new careers
- College chosen to shape future of further education colleges with English Colleges FA pilot
- College continues commitment to supporting staff mental health
- Nine college students from across the county receive Oxbridge offers
- Statement from Shrewsbury Colleges Group - 14/5/2021
- How to retrain for free via distance learning qualifications in Mental Health, Health and Social Care and Business
- 5 Courses supporting Young People’s Mental Health
- Sport Student Grace training with the British Cycling team
- April 2021
- SCG and Dulson Training to boost jobs in logistics industry through Kickstart scheme to fill a shortage in warehouse staff
- Former SCG student takes on top role working for Meghan and Harry's Archewell Foundation
- Sport students reaping benefits of performance software
- Statement from Shrewsbury Colleges Group - 6 April 2021
- Careers event for young people to help plan their future careers
- High student recruitment numbers at SCG creates need for up to 30 new job roles
- March 2021
- Shropshire Apprenticeship team helping support businesses across county
- Adults encouraged to attend advice events to find out more about Higher Education courses in Shropshire
- College recognises its outstanding students for their achievements
- Inspirational young people to be celebrated at Virtual Awards night
- College Welcomes Excellent Ofsted Visit Judgement
- Wearing and caring for face masks in classrooms
- Construction End Point Assessment Success Despite COVID Challenges
- Star Wars dream comes true for film student
- Students share experiences of COVID-19 testing at SCG
- Health & Social Care teacher joins vaccination volunteers
- Mathematics students win multiple awards
- College announces plans for return in March
- February 2021
- SCG starts third year of project to deliver digital support to prison inmates
- PGCE Student wins Educator of the Year
- Hairdressing students cut above the rest at hairdressing competition
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group now offers 20 FREE distance learning courses
- Amazing Apprentices for Apprenticeship Week
- College celebrates student volunteers
- SCG Celebrates Safer Internet Day 2021
- College responds to Government’s announcement of extended National Lockdown
- SCG backs the government’s Kickstart scheme
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- Enrolment Statement
- SCG shortlisted for Shropshire Chamber Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit
- SCG urges local employers to take advantage of Apprenticeship opportunities
- Are you aware of the condition - Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia?
- Statement concerning the wider re-opening of SCG 13th July 2020
- New Automotive Engineering Training Centre providing education for automotive technicians and engineers of the future
- Progress your career in the music industry on our HNC Music Technology
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- Seven SCG students from across the county receive Oxbridge offers
- Statement from Shrewsbury Colleges Group
- Latest Media Statement - Government Announcement 5.15pm Wednesday 18 March
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group takeover The Old Vicarage
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group responds to Ofsted report
- Latest Media Statement - SCG Response to Corona Virus queries
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group Student scoops Shropshire Shield in the 2020 High Sheriff Awards
- February 2020
- Triple success for Shrewsbury accounting apprentices
- Shrewsbury student writes, illustrates and publishes her own book about the town
- Shrewsbury hairdressing student a cut above the rest at regional competition
- Ofsted to reopen inspection into Shrewsbury Colleges Group Independent review concludes college is ‘among safest in country’
- Students excel with Engineering Apprenticeship win and prestigious place at Oxford University
- Former student's career researching the next generation of medicines
- Downton Abbey The Movie Star joins SCG Alumni
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- Seven SCG students from across the county get Oxbridge offers
- Students perform the one that you want – Grease the Musical
- Multiple student success in national Maths challenge
- Inspirational young people recognised by High Sheriff and SCG
- College Engineering apprentices succeed at WorldSkills UK
- Photography students snap up the chance to work with international company
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- Performing Arts students plant some magic beans for panto season
- Apprentices are awarded for their achievements
- SCG sets up AR learning in Youth Offenders prisons
- Students honour veterans with lunch in college restaurant
- Students mark Remembrance at all three campuses
- War poet’s pew unveiled at Shrewsbury Library
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- College is first in the region to become a Focus College as part of the Rugby Football Union
- Students all set for physical challenge to raise awareness and funds for stillbirth charities
- Higher Education “Ofsted” gives Shrewsbury Colleges Group the highest possible grade
- Record Number of Higher Education students graduate from Shrewsbury Colleges Group
- Music Technology students hit all the right notes with The Charlatans
- Record Number of Higher Education students to graduate from Shrewsbury Colleges Group
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- Students hone their Homer knowledge at Classics talk
- Travel & Tourism students single-handedly organise overseas trips
- Students are sure to shake up Shrewsbury with their Elvis musical
- BBC Sport Producer kicks off Careers Month at Shrewsbury Colleges Group
- Brickwork students get hands-on at iconic Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
- Music Teacher addresses shortfall of women in the industry
- College students cook up a storm in Wales
- February 2018
- January 2018