National Apprenticeship Week
Celebrating the impact of apprentices on individuals, employers and the community
“Skills for life”
We are proud to support National Apprenticeship Week, the 16th annual week long celebration of apprentices.
The theme this year is “Skills for Life” reflecting on how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career and help businesses to develop a talented workforce that is equipped with skills for the future.
Through the Close Brothers SME Apprentice Programme, our ASPIRE and Graduate programmes, and our internships with 10,000 Black Interns and UpReach, we are giving individuals the opportunity to realise their potential and develop the skills needed to kick start their careers.
Thinking about taking on an apprentice?
Here are some tips for taking on an apprentice
Supporting SMEs by helping fund new apprentices
Since 2015 Close Brothers has been supporting apprenticeships through its SME Apprentice Programme. The programme contributes to the funding of new apprentices in the manufacturing and transport sectors in and around the Midlands, helping local SMEs to secure the skills they need for the future.
Click here to find out more and meet some of our apprentices
Rosie Davies, a Close Brothers funded apprentice, Class of 2018
Jakub Kutcha, a Close Brothers funded apprentice, Class of 2020
Thinking about taking on an apprentice?
Here are 5 reasons why it could be beneficial to your business
Supporting ethnic diversity and social mobility
Our partnership with the 10,000 Black Interns programme provides a six week paid internship, giving students the opportunity to gain valuable insight and experience in the financial services sector. Last summer, we supported 31 students on this programme.
In addition, we continue our partnership with UpReach, a charity committed to transforming social mobility. Last summer’s internship programme offered six week placements for six university students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Meet Simi Uddin, an UpReach intern
Sophia Bechev, an UpReach intern
Providing opportunity
Our successful ASPIRE school leaver programme continues to run annually and provides those individuals not going to university with an opportunity to gain experience of different business lines on a rotation basis alongside being supported through training via the apprenticeship levy.
Find out more about our ASPIRE school leave programme
Our Graduate programme offers the opportunity to gain an in depth knowledge of the teams specific to a chosen career path, while gaining exposure across our Banking and Asset Management divisions.
