The BIG Apprenticeship events are being held this year on Tuesday 7 February in SRC’s Newry West Campus and on Thursday 9 February in Craigavon’s Civic Centre. Both events are from 5:30pm – 7:30pm and are part of The Department for the Economy’s Apprenticeship Week.

The BIG Apprenticeship Events will provide attendees with information on over 20 apprenticeship routes plus alternative routes to university in the form of Higher Level Apprenticeships, where it is possible to get a degree whilst you learn, with the added bonus of no course fees!

There is a wealth of opportunities available at the College with multiple placement opportunities available for courses starting in September 2023, and more expected, so if you’re looking to change your career or simply unsure of your next steps, why not attend The BIG Apprenticeship event and investigate these further!

Current apprenticeships available include Construction, Electrical, Plumbing, Motor Vehicle, Professional Cookery & Butchery, Business Administration and Hairdressing ....to name a few. With many options available, come on down to the event and speak with employers and College staff to find a career path.

For applicants seeking degrees, the Higher-Level Apprenticeship (HLA) route is for you. HLAs are designed for people who want to get practical experience and be ahead of university counterparts. During the HLA experience applicants build up relevant work experience whilst studying, earning a wage, and avoiding tuition fees.

HLA course offerings include a diverse range of subjects; from Accounting, FinTech, Digital Marketing, Hospitality & Tourism, Sport & Exercise, Construction (Digital Construction and Quantity Surveying), to Engineering (Mechatronic, Electrical & Electronic, Technical Design & Manufacture), to Computing (For Industry, Cloud Computing, Analytics & Security), and Applied Industrial Sciences (Chemical & Life Science pathways).

Newry Mourne Down District Council (NMDDC) is one of the employers working with SRC and the HLA programme. NMDDC currently have several SRC apprentices working within the organisation and gaining their degree through the HLA route. NMDDC chairperson Michael Savage came along to launch the Big Apprenticeship Event in SRC’s Newry campus, and NMDDC will be available at the Newry event to speak with prospective apprentices as they launch their career. Current and past apprentices will also be at the events to speak with attendees commencing their journey.

To pre-register for one of the Big Apprenticeship Events, head to https://www.src.ac.uk/events and complete the registration form. Events are free to attend.

To view courses and apply for a HLA, head to https://www.src.ac.uk/courses/.... To view apprenticeship options, check out SRC’s webpage at https://www.src.ac.uk/courses/....

College staff will be available on the day to provide guidance and help with applications.

#ThinkDifferentlyThinkApprenticeships

“We are delighted to have SRC’s Big Apprenticeship Events back live this year to help increase apprenticeship awareness and give more individuals along with their parents/guardians the opportunity to meet with local employers offering Apprenticeships and Higher Level Apprenticeships. The Events will give attendees the opportunity to attend drop-in sessions to hear directly from Apprentice Ambassadors on their Apprenticeship journey."

Sylvia Moorhead , Business Skills Manager at Southern Regional College.