Skills Group is the Best in Devon and Cornwall for Apprenticeships

The success rate for apprentices training with Skills Group is 23 per cent higher than the national average, figures reveal.

Youngsters who become apprentices with the Devon-based training provider achieved a 90 per cent success rate during 2015/2016, well above the national average of 67 per cent.

Published annually by the national Skills Funding Agency, the official figures place Skills Group in the top three per cent of all institutes nationally including colleges and training providers.

Top 10 South West Based Construction Apprenticeship Providers and their Success Rates*
1st – Skills Group – 87%
2nd – Petroc – 79%
3rd – Bristol City Council- 73%
4th – Focus Training and Development – 71%
5th – Yeovil College – 71%
6th – Exeter College – 68%
7th – Gloucestershire College – 67%
8th – Bridgwater and Taunton College – 64%
9th – City College Plymouth - 62%
10th – South Devon College – 58%

Skills Group is the third largest construction apprenticeship provider in the country and the highest achieving for construction in the South West and ranked fifth in the country.

Mark Boulting, managing director of Skills Group, said: “This is great news for the apprentices who embark on training programmes with us and the employers who take them on. It is also recognition of the fantastic work of our staff in helping to ensure our success rates remain high year after year. All this set against the back-drop of Ofsted rating us as Outstanding, it is a great achievement.

“In the South West the demand for a skilled workforce has never been as strong and we are committed to helping employers recruit hard-working, responsible learners who can be trained up in the skills vital to their individual sector for now and in the future.”

Skills Group, which has state-of-the-art training facilities in Plymouth, Plympton, Exeter and Newton Abbot, trained more than 2,000 youngsters during 2015/16 academic year.

Skills Group delivers training and upskilling programmes across a broad range of sectors offering job opportunities for young people across the region in business administration, care and early years, construction, education, engineering and automotive, sport and leisure, and hairdressing.

  • Source – Department for Education and Education and Skills Funding Agency, NARTs 2015/16

I just wanted to say the biggest thank you to Vanessa, my trainer. You have made my journey so much easier, I don’t know what I would have done without you. You have been amazing and helped me to achieve my qualification. You’ve guided me through every step of the way, I really appreciate it, Vanessa, you have been my rock.

Katie Shorland, Level 2 Hairdressing

I always struggled in school as I wasn’t very academic, so knew learning on the job would be a better option for me. I would find it difficult to get up for 9am but now I wake up and look forward to my day. I wanted to try a hair apprenticeship as I’ve always been interested in hairdressing, and by the end of the first week, I already loved it!

Jaimee Benson, Level 2 Hairdressing

I have developed a range of new skills through work including the technical, industry skills required for the job, to personal development such as ensuring I am always on time. The biggest change since leaving school is adjusting to the independence you gain from earning a salary. My advice to anyone thinking of doing an apprenticeship would be find what you like doing, and go for it!

Will Birch, Level 2 Bricklaying

Since starting the apprenticeship, I’ve become far more confident. In a classroom, you only interact with your classmates, but through working you develop your people skills as you interact with customers on a daily basis. At school, you are closely monitored and parented, however I am now more independent and feel grown up

Sam Collard, Level 2 Light Vehicle and Maintenance Repair

The most important thing I’ve learnt since leaving school is that there are other routes to success than just academia. I failed my GCSEs, as I never suited the school environment. Now though, I’m really enjoying my apprenticeship as I’ve discovered I learn more through hands-on practice.

Ben Freeman, Level 2 Carpentry

I would just like to thank you and your team for all the amazing work they do, you have provided me with the most invaluable experience which has helped to pave the way of my future. The work you do for young people is incredible!

Luke Kowalski, Teaching Assistant and former apprentice at Sir Robert Gefferys School