Record day for EDA Apprenticeship starters in January

Impressive uptake of EDA ‘Placed’ Apprentice Scheme

On January 5^th, 16 apprentices turned up for their first day’s work in EDA wholesale branches throughout the country. This was the highest number of starts in one day since the current apprenticeship scheme began.

And January 2015 is also set to be the highest month on record, with about 40 young apprentices joining the industry in locations as far north as Inverness and as far south as Plymouth.

They will be taking NVQs in Customer Service, Warehousing and Storage, Business Administration and Trade Business Services.

By way of comparison, the average number of apprentice starts per month in 2014 was 15 per month with March, July and August being the highest with more than 20 starts each.

Over the past few months, the EDA has been raising awareness amongst its 100 member companies of the three types of training it currently offers: Product Knowledge Module Training; the ‘Placed’ Apprentice Scheme and Vocational Training and Apprenticeships for existing employees.

The EDA has been particularly pleased with the increased interest and uptake in the ‘Placed’ Apprentice scheme which allows members to bring a young person into their business without having to add them to their headcount or engage them in a contract of employment.

The contract of employment is with the EDA’s Apprentice Training Agency – EDA Apprenticeship Plus – which manages the entire process on behalf of the wholesaler. This includes advertising the position, assessment of candidates, screening interviews, contract of employment; securing of funding for training, organisation of induction days and regular assessment days, and awarding of certificates for apprentices.

If the employer is happy with the apprentice it is possible to offer them a contract of employment at any time but if not, then it becomes the responsibility of the EDA’s Agency to find an alternative placement elsewhere.

Education and Training is one of the key activities of the EDA and it has embarked on a campaign to foster a culture of learning in the industry for the benefit of its members and to add value to the supply chain in general.

For more information

The EDA’s Apprentice Scheme is open to EDA members and EDA Affiliated Manufacturers and you can find out more by contacting Joanna Key at the EDA. Email Joanna@eda.org.uk or call 01892 619990.