STUDENTS taking courses in business administration and customer service at Milton Keynes College are hitting extraordinary pass rates, with more than 95% achieving ‘Distinction’ grade in their apprenticeships.
Over the past 18 months not a single candidate has failed the courses and a similar percentage are going on to full employment with the companies at which they have trained.
Workplace trainers Nicky Searle and Caroline Marren say their success at helping dozens of apprentices achieve top grades is simply down to hard work.
“We work with a number of awarding bodies and they all interpret the necessary standards in different ways,” Caroline says. “The only way to absolutely keep on top of what our apprentices need to learn is to go through all the feedback we receive from the awarding bodies in fine detail in every case.
“So long as we can explain to the candidates exactly what’s expected the rest is down to them, and they’ve delivered over and over again. We’re very proud of them.”
Nicky adds: “We expect all our apprentices to get distinctions – that’s our starting point. We also expect that they’ll have a good job at the end of it.
“The employers have had a chance to see what they can do as they spend four days a week at work and just one at college, so I’m not surprised our employment rates are so strong.”
Apprentices are working in a wide range of businesses and organisations, from a stables to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
“Employers are really engaged,” says Caroline. “It’s so encouraging to see companies taking pride in their apprentices and reaping the rewards of their training.
“Businesses in Milton Keynes have really woken up to the value of apprenticeships. We work very closely with employers so that everything our apprentices learn is relevant to their business now making them more productive and efficient even while they’re still training.
“They completely understand that these people will be key to their future success in difficult times.”
