Truro and Penwith College has announced that two of its apprenticeships will continue to be delivered online on a permanent basis after its online teaching was praised by both learners and employers
Truro and Penwith College moved timetables online in March 2020 in response to lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Strong support for its digital delivery and calls from learners and employers have influenced the decision to offer online options for the level 3 business administrator and team leader/supervisor apprenticeships on a permanent basis, with the next groups starting in April 2021.
Truro and Penwith College apprentices have achieved the highest possible distinction grade to date, all via online learning.
Ali Thomas (49), a business officer at Cornwall Council, is studying the level 3 business administrator apprenticeship and has been attending online lessons since March.
Ali comments: “I was apprehensive at first but have found online learning better than traditional classroom-based learning.”
“I have been able to participate in interactive sessions with other students, ask questions and contribute to discussions. The only difference is that I haven’t been physically there.”
“Online learning has definitely improved my IT skills and helped me realise how adaptable I can be, embracing change. I have more time for work and study with no commute, I no longer have the expense of travelling and I am more productive and confident in what I can achieve at work.”
The level 3 business administrator and team leader/supervisor apprenticeships are specifically designed to train current staff, of any age, who are already employed by an organisation.
The programmes are particularly suited to online learning because they focus on the flexibility to make changes, adapt to business challenges and future proofing businesses, helping employers prepare for recovery and to tackle new challenges.
The level 3 business administrator apprenticeship prepares learners for more responsibility, including management, and helps businesses to ensure administrative functions can support the business fully and adapt when needed.
Apprentices on the level 3 team leader/supervisor apprenticeship gain a diploma from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) as part of the programme, which is perfect for those who are new to, or moving into, a management role.
Adele Bull, head of apprenticeships and business relations at Truro and Penwith College, says: “The college is very pleased to support our employers and learners with the move to permanent online delivery for these programmes.”
“We are very proud that we have been able to adapt to online delivery, maintain our outstanding learning experience and continue with the unbelievable results achieved by learners in these areas.”
“We expect the April starts to be very popular with the results these programmes deliver for employers, not to mention the fact that they are incredibly cost-effective, with many large employers able to train staff at no additional cost through their Apprenticeship Levy and the government funding 95% of Apprenticeship costs for SMEs.”
To find out more about apprenticeships at Truro and Penwith College, visit truro-penwith.ac.uk/employapprentices
