New apprenticeship opportunities available in Peterborough
New apprenticeship opportunities in Information and Communications Technologies will be available in Greater Peterborough following a ground-breaking initiative between IDEA Ltd and Peterborough Regional College.
IDEA Ltd was launched by the Prime Minister in 2009 and is a joint venture between BT, Cisco, University College London, University of East Anglia, University of Essex, University Campus Suffolk and Suffolk New College. The work of IDEA builds on the strengths of these founding partners to create innovative solutions to skills and training requirements.
IDEA Ltd will be working with Peterborough Regional College to develop and deliver a new IT Professional Apprenticeship at level 3 (A level equivalent). This is part of a national apprenticeship initiative led by e-skills (the IT sector skills council), IDEA Ltd and Microsoft.
IDEA apprentices are employed by local businesses where the use of IT is business-critical, not exclusively IT companies. Apprentices spend time learning at college as well as in the workplace and will have access to BT’s global research centre, Adastral Park in Suffolk. Unlike other apprenticeship schemes, IDEA Ltd will encourage and support apprentices providing opportunities for them to network with each other, allowing them to broaden their knowledge and understanding and share ideas.
Commenting on his experience as an IDEA apprentice, James Eade said:
“This apprenticeship has helped me immensely. It has been greatly beneficial to developing myself. It has given me an insight into how the world of business really works whilst allowing me to gain a qualification in the process. It has been an eye-opening experience.
Learning on the job has been fantastic for me, teaching me far more than I could have learnt in the classroom! I have learnt so much and really enjoy being an apprentice, I am now very confident in my job role and am able to teach others.”
Peterborough Regional College will be working with IDEA Ltd as a key delivery partner. Commenting on the development College Principal Angela Joyce said:
“We are delighted to form a strategic partnership with IDEA Ltd and e-skills nationally to provide industry knowledge of the ICT sector at the highest level. This partnership provides key apprenticeship opportunities within the region which we feel will greatly benefit all those businesses that rely on an ICT infrastructure to support their business.”
Dr Peter Funnell, Chief Executive, IDEA Ltd went on to say:
“The digital economy and digital participation are essential to building a 21st century knowledge economy. Fully employing ICT is the single most important step that can be taken to improve competitiveness and promote innovation, productivity and prosperity, whilst a skilled and competent workforce is critical to the success of every sector. This creates a big challenge: to significantly enhance business and technology skills at all levels.
IDEA aims to contribute to addressing this challenge by developing and delivering a unique skills escalator and associated business solutions for the digital economy. Our partnership with Peterborough Regional College is an important element of this development and will allow us to bring new training and employment opportunities to Greater Peterborough and the wider area in collaboration with local, regional and national employers”.
For further information about the IDEA apprenticeship scheme available through Peterborough Regional College please contact Howard Smith, IDEA Apprenticeship Scheme Coordinator on 01473 382 456 or email howardsmith@suffolk.ac.uk. Alternatively visit the IDEA website at www.ideawebsite.co.uk