Patrick Stewart, Employability Officer, who was the project lead for NWRC, joined Michelle Breslin, NWRC Administration and Training Support Manager, and Conor McCann from Combined Facilities Management (CFM) for the local launch of the package at Strand Road Campus, which has been named ‘Mentor Connect.’
Supported by the NI Apprenticeship Challenge Fund through the Department for the Economy, Mentor Connect offers a range of online materials for both employers and apprentices to ensure that both gain the maximum benefit from their experience.
Employers can access a free online training module leading to a recognition as an Apprenticeship Mentor. They can also explore an Employers’ Toolkit, which explains fully the NI Apprenticeship scheme.
New and aspiring apprentices can access an Apprentice Toolkit, which provides them with the information needed to secure an apprenticeship job, to prepare for joining the workplace and to make the most of their apprenticeship in order to build a career in their chosen area.
Conor McCann from CFM said: “Taking on an apprentice is a great way to refresh your team, bringing a new perspective on the job from someone who is keen to learn and progress. Mentor Connect, with its range of resources for employers and apprentices, will help everyone involved to maximise the benefits of the apprenticeship scheme and will play a major role in developing a skilled workforce for the future.”
Michelle Breslin of NWRC who worked alongside the other colleges to develop the online resources said: “These are excellent online resources that will support both employers and apprentices to demystify the content, structure and administration associated with the Apprenticeship programmes, increasing the recruitment and retention rate within the apprenticeship system.’
The Mentor Connect package of resources can be accessed, free of charge, via the NWRC website at www.nwrc.ac.uk
For further information on the project contact michelle.breslin@nwrc.ac.uk
