‘An apprenticeship is the perfect way to get into a trade’
‘WE TREAT OUR APPRENTICES AS ADULTS’: Bishop Burton College’s Paul Nicholson
During National Apprenticeship Week, Bishop Burton College’s Lead Assessor and Coach in Butchery Apprenticeships Paul Nicholson discusses being able to earn and learn at the same time…
The importance of apprenticeships can’t be overstated.
They’re the perfect way to get into a trade and earn while you learn. They also offer an alternative for people who don’t want to continue in full-time education, which isn’t for everyone.
The majority of our apprentices don’t particularly enjoy classroom study. They weren’t really keen on school and they want to be in the workplace, developing their practical skills in an adult environment and bringing in a wage.
But apprenticeships do also offer them the chance to further their education and we’ve had plenty who’ve completed their Level 2 and then do their Level 3. This gives them the chance to take on more senior, supervisory roles.
Apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers or youngsters either, they can be for people of any age.
Here at Bishop Burton College, we treat all of our apprentices as adults.
I always say to all my new cohorts that I’ll treat them that way because, even if they’ve just left school as a child, they’re now working in an adult environment and earning a wage.
We treat them with respect and expect that same respect in return. We get the best out of them that way and they enjoy the experience so much more.
We teach them life and social skills they’ll need in an adult environment, which can be just as important as the theory they learn to apply at work. This helps make them more employable.
OPPORTUNITIES: Paul Nicholson has had a successful career after learning a trade
Many trades are also crying out for talented, enthusiastic new people.
The butchery trade was seen to be struggling about 10 to 15 years ago, but it’s made a comeback and we’ve had more than 100 butchery apprentices here in the last few years.
Most of the learners have already secured a job when they come to college on an apprenticeship. If they haven’t, we can help them get one, because we have really good employer partners.
Apprentices come into college for one day a week, for 20 per cent off-the-job training. We teach them the theory side in college, such as knife skills, health and safety and food safety.
They then spend four days in work, where they develop their practical skills in the workplace. I go in and assess them as they’re carrying out their job roles.
I love seeing them progress.
I’m from a farming background and got into the butchery after school, so I really know the importance of learning a trade.
I’ve had a fantastic career, including opening and running a butchery department at Castle Howard stately home and running a farm shop called Fodder at Yorkshire Agricultural Society, so I know what it can lead to.
There’s no doubt apprenticeships can open many doors and be a platform for a long and successful career.