Education
Published: February 20, 2025 | Updated: 20th February 2025
A variety of events were held last week by South Hampshire College Group (SHCG) in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2025.
The group organised presentations and informative talks across its sites, including Eastleigh College, Fareham College, Southampton College, CEMAST and CETC.
Speakers included representatives from the NHS, DVSA and the wider civil service.
There were also networking events – from an employer’s breakfast, which brought together key local business and education figures, to a ‘meet your match’ session, which gave students and apprentices the chance to connect with employers from different sectors and explore interviews and placement opportunities.
Clare Lewis is an employer at local mortgage broker business C L Mortgages, which has taken on SHCG student Cameron as an apprentice.
“We need young people coming up through the ranks so we can grow our company,” said Clare.
“Apprenticeships are one of the best ways to achieve this, and as an employer, they allow me to shape staff to work how they need to in order to best support the firm.”
The week also celebrated T Levels – a relatively new qualification taken after GCSEs and roughly equivalent to three A Levels – with hundreds of young people and their parents invited along to four special information evenings.
These events were supported by the universities of Portsmouth, Southampton and Solent.
Briony is one of many Hampshire students currently undertaking a T Level programme in early years and education, which is setting her up for a career in safeguarding and supporting young people.
“As part of my T Level, I have a large work placement in a school, which gives me real experience working with children from a range of circumstances,” she said.
“Our facilities at college also are really good, because there’s a nursery and spaces where we learn hands-on skills, as well as classrooms, so we get a real mix of learning and experience.”
