Engaging with Our Valued Employers - Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we had the fantastic opportunity to visit some of our employers who choose Loughborough College as their trusted Apprenticeship provider. These visits highlighted the invaluable role Apprentices play in various industries and showcased the strong partnerships we’ve built with businesses of all sizes. 

We kicked off the week with a visit to Fairfield Preparatory School and Loughborough Sports Foundation. Joined by our Vice Chair of Governors, Jayne Dickenson Darcy, we toured the facilities with Jo Hackett, Director of Sport at the Loughborough Schools Foundation. 

The visit was an opportunity to see our Apprentices thriving in different areas, from the Sports Department to Early Years Kindergarten and Years 2 and 3. Seeing them in action reaffirmed the importance of high-quality Apprenticeship training in education and sport. 

Midweek, College staff visited local employer Druck, where Sophie Allen, Curriculum Manager for Engineering, Engineering Strategic Lead Jon Melville, and Director of Strategic Partnerships and External Relationships Laura Shepherd were welcomed by Roy Dowell, the Apprentice Mentor. 

Reflecting on the visit to Druck, which recently won Large Employer of the Year at our first annual Apprenticeship Awards, Laura shared: “It was a privilege to witness the company’s dedication to Apprenticeship training. Seeing their apprentices’ enthusiasm and development first-hand underpinned our relationship with Druck and ongoing commitment to investing in the future workforce.”

We rounded off the week with a visit to Micro Weighing Solutions (MWS) in Birstall, where the Loughborough College team met Management Accountant Christine McDonald and Sandi, one of their dedicated Business Administrator Apprentices. As a small business, MWS places Apprenticeships at the heart of its workforce development, ensuring a skilled and sustainable future. Their approach demonstrates how Apprenticeships can be a powerful tool for small businesses to grow and thrive. 

National Apprenticeship Week was a fantastic reminder of how Apprenticeships create real impact - not just for learners but for businesses shaping their industries. By offering Apprenticeships in partnership with Loughborough College, employers can diversify their workforce, upskill current staff, and access several benefits of Government funding to enhance the skills and futures of their employees. 

Find out more about partnering with Loughborough College on our Employers website.