This week marks the start of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), and this year's theme is 'Skills for Life'. The week isn't just about raising awareness of how beneficial apprenticeships can be to both those training for their new skill and their employer but also to celebrate and encourage people to consider starting the process of getting involved in their own apprenticeships or taking on an apprentice, and even to express some gratitude to training providers and the hard work that goes into providing learner support.
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with academic study and are available to people over the age of 16. They give learners a chance to earn professional qualifications, skills, and values they can keep for life and put into real-time practice in their work lives. Apprenticeships also benefit the workforce as they help boost skills and reduce staff turnover and recruitment costs.
Apprenticeship Life at PAR Group
At PAR Group, we currently hire three apprenticeships. They all work in our Manchester Production and are currently studying 'EAL (Excellence, Achievement and Learning) Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering – Machinist' at Rochdale Training Centre. We caught up with them recently to get to know their thoughts on the apprenticeship scheme.
Tell us about your role?
Jessica said, "I operate milling and lathe CNC machines; we use different types of plastic material for machines' finished parts. We create new programs when required working to drawings or selecting existing programmes to run the machine. We set different types of tooling to machine the part."
How has your apprenticeship contributed to your personal and professional growth?
Tyler told us, "My apprenticeship has contributed to my personal life by creating a routine where I work to a standard where I don’t get tired. My professional growth has seen a huge improvement as I feel more confident to run machinery solo to a great standard in different areas of production."
What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?
Tayyab shared his thoughts: "Unlike university, where it’s mainly lecture and coursework, an apprenticeship combines the two along with 3/4 days in an actual working environment. This gives the opportunity to regularly learn from time-served individuals. Oh, and don’t forget you also earn a salary!!! I honestly think it was one of the best decisions I could have made."
As did Jessica, "The Advice I would give to someone wanting to start an engineering apprenticeship is that you should just do it. You learn about a lot of different things. It makes you more independent; you will also meet new people who are all really nice and helpful. I also think having a female perspective is good; I am the only female in production and never felt singled out or that I don’t belong; I am part of the team. Engineering can seem to be a male's job, but that’s not the case; it's a really good career path for anyone."
The employment opportunities and skills our apprentices bring to PAR Group wouldn't be possible without the help of Rochdale Training Centre. Lisa from the company offered us insight into why apprenticeships are essential for business: "Apprentices are an investment in the future of any business. By passing on skills and knowledge to apprentices, with the right guidance and skills, they will grow in confidence and understand the industry from the ground up.
Here at Rochdale Training, we offer apprenticeships across several industries, including engineering. In the centre, you will be taught by experienced engineers who have industry knowledge and experience. Apprentices learn directly from within the workplace, and at Rochdale Training, we work alongside them, ensuring they develop skills that are highly relevant to the business needs.
They bring new ideas, enthusiasm, and a fresh perspective to the workplace. Investing in apprentices creates a pipeline of skilled employees for the company’s future. Supporting apprenticeships benefits businesses and empowers individuals, giving them the chance to kickstart meaningful careers. Together, we're shaping a skilled and confident workforce that will drive businesses forward for years to come."
We are proud to support our apprentices, encourage growth, and offer our customers a workforce full of highly skilled, keen, and forward-thinking workers.
To keep up to date with National Apprenticeship Week 2025, follow Apprenticeships on X and Apprenticeships on LinkedIn and don’t forget to use the hashtags #NAW2025 and #SkillsForLife on social media.