Following the launch of the new nationwide higher-level apprenticeship programme in partnership with Historic England, throughout the whole of last week, Strode College held the first of several residential training workshops as part of the programme delivery.
It was a chance for all students studying the apprenticeship from all across the country to come together and share their learning experiences as well as gain new knowledge from the college’s History, Heritage and Archaeology Tutor, David Etheridge in the classroom. The training involves challenging assignments and extensive e-learning tasks that will supplement the time the apprentices spend at work and, in the specific workshop week, the concept has been based on pre-history.
Adrian Ash, Head of Higher Education at Strode College, said: “After months of careful planning, it’s great to have the Historic England apprentices with us in Street. The chance to share our archaeological expertise with a group of enthusiastic individuals from across the country has finally become a reality.”
Lianna Francis-Kelly, Heritage Apprenticeships Training Adviser, who accompanied the students on their visit, said: “This is a new and exciting partnership for Historic England, and we have been really impressed with the enthusiasm for this apprenticeship across the whole college; with academic, administrative and senior staff all working hard to produce a training plan that meets the requirements of this new apprenticeship standard.”
During the week, in combination with classroom-based learning, apprentices enjoyed a Health and Safety-focused site visit with Engie Construction, which is building a new housing estate in Glastonbury, and embarked on a visit to Avebury to learn more about pre-historic sites.
As part of the programme, the apprentices undertake six block releases over the first year of their course, with three of these based at Strode College. There will also be teaching weeks delivered at Historic England regional offices in Swindon, Birmingham and York and the chance for apprentices to engage with the latest archaeological equipment and technology, as well as getting their hands dirty in practical activities and site visits.
Lily Mulvey, one of our furthest afield based apprentices who is currently working for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “I saw this apprenticeship advertised on LinkedIn through the National Park Society. The course looked interesting in content as it would allow me to study a variety of historic ages. From looking at the viewpoint of History, Heritage as well as Archaeology, and so the breadth of the course is what appealed to me the most. I also liked the fact that the programme is offered in partnership with Historic England, as I believe this stands me in good stead in getting a role with them in the future.”
Strode College was selected to act as training provider for this national apprenticeship due to the long-established success and unique quality of its BA (Hons) degree course in History, Heritage and Archaeology, which has seen many graduates gain employment in the heritage sector or progress to further study.
The expertise of highly qualified academics teaching on the programme and the breadth of cooperation with the business community made Strode College the perfect choice for this high-profile opportunity, which attracted a huge response from potential learners. The experience of delivering industry-focused apprenticeship programmes to the latest exacting standards for diverse employers also contributed to Historic England’s decision to entrust its flagship programme with Strode College.
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