Whilst Mayor announces concessionary travel scheme for apprentices

Billy Shephard an apprentice from My Nametags in Putney, showed his support for National Apprenticeship Week (11-15th March) on Friday by making an appearance at St Marys CE Primary School in Putney. He labelled anything and everything he could lay his hands on from the school’s spare uniform, in case of art-room spillages and playground accidents, to school, office and playground equipment with labels personalised for St Marys.

Billy said: “I wanted to promote the National Apprenticeship Scheme because an apprenticeship has helped me to gain vital work experience whilst gaining a highly sought after qualification. It has also given me the skills and confidence needed to be competent within my job role.”

My Nametags took on Billy last year as an apprentice at their head office in Putney. Throughout this time Billy showed great skill and initiative and is about to gain his customer service qualification. As well as his training in customer service, Billy also attended a graphic design course; so he is now designing name tags as well as assisting customers and maintaining the smooth running of the office. The company were so taken with Billy’s work ethic and diligence that they have just offered him a permanent contract.

Lars Andersen, Managing Director of My Nametags said:
“We think the National Apprenticeship Scheme (NAS) is vital in helping young people to develop their skills and for the opportunity to gain successful employment. We also believe that the NAS is important for companies like ourselves in finding enthusiastic and hardworking young people. We would definitely recommend the apprenticeship scheme and will happily be taking on another apprentice in the coming months”.

On Monday, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, kicked off National Apprenticeship Week by announcing a new concessionary travel scheme that will help put money back in the pockets of hard working apprentices.

From May the scheme, which was one of the Mayor’s manifesto commitments, will allow anyone in the first year of an apprenticeship to get 30 per cent off adult rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram pass season tickets. It is expected to benefit around 40,000 apprentices living and working in the capital and forms part of the Mayor’s on-going campaign to boost employment opportunities for young Londoners. The concession could save an apprentice up to £660 a year on the cost of an annual travel card.

The Mayor pledged to help create 100,000 apprenticeships in the capital by 2012 and he is imminently expected to be able to confirm that he beat that target with months to spare. The latest official figures recorded up to October of last year show the campaign, run in partnership with the National Apprenticeship Service, stands at 99,700. However the next quarter’s figures are due out later this month and are expected to see a total of well in excess of the 100,000 target.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “London’s apprentices are now providing a fantastic contribution to our economy and it’s only right that they are recognised for their hard work and commitment. It’s a two way street for all involved - with employers benefiting from fresh ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit, while apprentices gain confidence and a competitive understanding of the workplace. This travel concession will help put money back in their pockets and will encourage more young Londoners to sign up for apprenticeship schemes.”

The Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy was opened in September 2011 and was established to address the skills shortage in tunnelling and underground construction. It allows Crossrail to train and retain the skilled workforce needed to deliver Europe’s biggest construction project. It will also create an important legacy beyond Crossrail by addressing the future skills needed for the unprecedented level of tunnelling and underground construction due to take place in the UK and Europe over the next decade.

Vic Grimes, Divisional Apprenticeship - Director, London and South East, National Apprenticeship Service, said:
“The National Apprenticeship Service has been working closely with the GLA and TfL to ensure that this travel concession benefits young Londoners. Apprentices are travelling daily across the capital to work and study, and we are particularly delighted that this concession is being announced during Apprenticeship Week. This is a great time for people to find out about Apprenticeships and the range of options open to job seekers. Apprenticeships now cover over 1,500 job roles from engineering and youth work to digital media, so the range of opportunities is huge. I would encourage employers and young people to find out more or to search for a vacancy to visit our website apprenticeships.org.uk.”

Apprentices will be able to apply for their Apprentice Oyster Photocard from early May on the TfL website. They will need to be over 18 to be eligible and enrolled in the first year of an approved apprenticeship course. More information on how to apply for the scheme will be released soon. It is expected that applicants will receive their photocards within a matter of weeks of making their application.

Local Assembly Member Richard Tracey told PutneySW15.com:" For a long time, I have said that apprenticeships and apprentices should get our full support as a way of making a strong start in the world of work. This move by the Mayor is a most important contribution."

March 15, 2013