A new campaign by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to create more than 20,000 apprenticeships this academic year is being launched. The financial services sector is the number one target for the campaign, with City firms being urged to embrace apprentices.
A new campaign by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to create more than 20,000 apprenticeships this academic year is being launched. The financial services sector is the number one target for the campaign, with City firms being urged to embrace apprentices.
National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS) Sylvia Perrins, CEO, supports the initiative:
“Apprenticeships are the skills solution for the new generation. Not only do apprenticeships provide a cost-effective and flexible work-based learning pathway, they can also be a great benefit to companies as they get an employer who is moulded to their business needs. Apprenticeships also provide the training structure that enables people to perform their role as effectively and as skilled as possible. It is a real alternative route to young people and young adults to avoid debt they would incur if they follow a traditional university pathway.
“The financial services sector is putting itself ahead of the game, realising that with increased university tuition fees there will be a shortage of graduates in years to come as well as being attractive to those people who are put off incurring several years of debt through student loans.
“The NSAFS has been providing apprenticeships for the past two years across the financial services industry in London and across England. In some sectors of financial services, uptake has been growing, particularly in insurance and with some investment banks. We could make a real impact if the retail banking sector were to join this growing club and wholeheartedly embrace apprenticeships.
“We are working with the National Apprenticeship Service to progress the Mayor’s plans. The key to success is an active three-way partnership between the employer, the apprentice and the training provider. “
To interview Sylvia Perrins and find out more about financial services apprenticeships, please contact Sarah Evans-Toyne, Tania Vie Riba or Saira Khan on 020 7726 6111 (nsafs@broadgatemainland.com).
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