Young people keen to play their part in the heritage-led regeneration, are being urged to attend a special apprentice open evening at Bishop Auckland College.
Auckland Castle earlier this year joined forces with the further education establishment to launch an apprenticeship academy with the aim of equipping youngsters with the expertise needed to capitalise on the £60m redevelopment of the former palace home of England’s only Prince Bishops.
Believed to be the first time an independently run heritage attraction and a college have teamed up in this way, the first Auckland Academy course gets underway on September 5.
The open evening on 10 May between 5.30pm and 7.30pm will provide an insight into the academy’s training programme and its plans to develop the next generation of Bishop Auckland workers.
The aim of the event is to catch Year 11 pupils before they start their GCSEs as well as school-leavers, and explain how they may be able to take advantage of the expected 100 new full and part-time posts predicted to be generated by Auckland Castle’s exciting restoration and expansion plans.
Camilla Race, the College’s Employment Services Manager, in charge of the new academy, said: “Pupils, parents, teachers and careers advisors are all welcome at the open evening, which will highlight the apprenticeship opportunities available through the academy, as well as the many other training initiatives offered by the college.
“The Auckland Academy is set to make a significant contribution towards meeting the job opportunities that will become available at not just Auckland Castle but within the wider community as other businesses benefit from the developments.
“Students on the course will be able to test and widen their skills with sponsored placements. Not everyone who wins a place on the academy programme will be guaranteed a final job, but it will certainly give students a better chance of finding other skilled work and will set a benchmark for excellence.”
The Auckland Academy has grown from an existing affiliation between the castle and college. This has already seen seven business administration, marketing and catering apprentices join Auckland Castle’s rapidly expanding workforce over the past nine months.
The charitable Auckland Castle Trust, which oversees the running of what is one of the UK’s most important historical buildings, needs to fill a variety of jobs from horticulturists to business administrators, maintenance, events and promotions staff, trainee chefs, and customer service and hospitality workers.
Among those who will be taken on will be 34 apprentices over three years supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of its £9m award made last year towards the total £17m cost of conserving Auckland Castle’s state rooms, and the building of a new two-storey museum wing to house an exhibition exploring the impact faith of all denominations has had on the nation’s history and people.
Camilla said as a whole Bishop Auckland College currently had 40-plus apprentice posts waiting to be filled with a number of employers in the area. These included roles as diverse as catering, social media, customer service, administration, plumbing, childcare, joinery and cookery.
Rebecca Coates, HR Director at the Auckland Castle Trust, added: “We are passionate about developing the workforce of the future and ensuring they are in a position to make a positive difference and to be the best they can be.
“Bishop Auckland College and the Auckland Academy is a big part of not just our apprenticeship drive, but ensuring the talent we know is available in the town is nurtured for the benefit of all.
“We are delighted to have developed what will be a lasting partnership with the College, a collaboration that recognises the need to bring new skills to the fore and invest in the next generation of workers.”
Rebecca said while the castle would be the initial attraction, the vision had always been for local people to be at the heart of its wider success. “That is why we are creating training and volunteer opportunities, apprenticeships and jobs, and providing openings for local businesses and enterprises to be able to take advantage of the expected influx of visitors, which will in turn create further possibilities.
“For young people looking to move into the work place and secure local jobs, this is an exciting time. The open evening on 10th May will provide important information on how they can gain the skills and qualifications needed to be a part of a thriving future for Bishop Auckland.”
The new academy will work with young people between the ages of 16 and 20, with participants starting on a Level 2 apprenticeship qualification. Camilla Race said as an employee, apprentices would earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain skills while staying in education, returning regularly to Bishop Auckland College – rated the top performing educational establishment of its kind in the region for overall success rates for 16-18 year olds – for further training.
Auckland Castle will pay the apprentices it takes on, with others placed with additional employers in the area. Camilla said: “It is an alternative route into employment offering different qualifications and training. There’s this myth that apprentices are not the highest academic achievers and that it’s not a viable route into employment. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
