300 new apprentices begin training - but many firms are still missing out
September sees many start on an apprenticeship journey that will lead to incredible careers and future-proof businesses for years to come. So why is it that so many businesses still don't get it?
Dear reader,
Welcome to Monday’s edition of The Raikes Journal.
Today we take a look at a route to work championed by almost every political party verbally, all agreeing it is one of the key elements to the UK solving its skills gap, yet the small print suggesting all of them are inconsistent at best.
Perversely, while more and more sectors appear to be embracing apprenticeships, a closer look reveals nationally the number of opportunities has been in decline until recently - but not in Gloucestershire.
Here, against the national trend, Gloucestershire College and its partner businesses have been delivering training ranging from Level 2 courses through to degree level, from construction to cyber, accountancy to engineering.
Only last year did the national picture change, and the numbers increase UK-wide.
Despite Gloucestershire appearing ahead of the curve, those delivering the training here are not standing still. They believe many, many businesses continue to miss out and that it’s potentially holding businesses back.
Best regards,
Andrew Merrell (editor).Your briefing notes...
💷 A £9.5 million deal has been revealed between a Gloucester-headquartered firm and a Warrington-based business. Housing services giant Mears Group, one of Gloucestershire’s biggest firms by turnover, has bought Penngington Choices Group Ltd (PCL). It adds 150 staff to the books of Mears and an estimated additional £17 million turnover. PCL delivers a range of compliance activities in the social housing sector, including stock condition surveys, fire risk asessments, energy performance and asbestos testing.
🎓 The University of Gloucestershire was putting out a press release today celebrating its rise up the ranks of the Guardian University Guide 2026 by 32 places. According to the guide, which considers factors including teaching quality and student feedback, subjects that really stood out included paramedic science, English, hospitality, event management and tourism, geography and interior design.
📚 CyNam, the Cheltenham-headquartered cyber security and technology community, has announced Sir Nick Clegg and Harvard Law’s Professor Cass Sunstein will be speaking as part of its Secure Futures Series this October. The week-long programme of events will take place from 13 to 17 of October and links into The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. CyNam is supporting events at the festival featuring both speakers.
💚 James Hygate, chief executive officer of Gloucestershire-based Firefly Green Fuels has been honoured with a Green Leader Award at the Green Awards UK. Hygate received the award in recognition of the 22 years off work by his business and te potential of its sewage biosolids to jet innovation, which converts waste into sustainable aviation fuel.
🏗️ Reassurance has been given that everything is being done for plans for more than 700 new homes in Gloucester to progress. Leader of the city council, Jeremy Hilton, has said that plans by housing developers Bromford and Snow Capel were being given every opportunity to progress. The developments are proposed for three different sites across the city. More here.
Charity of the week…
We continue our run-up to the Believe in Gloucester Awards 2025 with another short feature on one of the shortlisted names from the charities category. The awards single out businesses and organisations with a presence in Gloucester that are outstanding. Last week we highlighted Sunflowers Suicide Support, also shortlisted in the charities category, and this week we introduce you to The Rotary Club of Gloucester. The group is part of the international Rotary network of Great Britain and Ireland and exists to support social causes and change lives in communities. In Gloucester alone there are five clubs under the umbrella - Gloucester, Gloucester North, Gloucester Severn, Gloucester Quays and South Cotswolds. Each stages weekly meetings and events. If you want to get to know more there is a Discover Rotary Evening on Wednesday 17 September from 6pm to 7.15pm at The Holiday Inn, Barnwood, Crest Way. More here.
To find out more about the Believe in Gloucester Awards read our special edition here.
Gloucestershire law firm partners with Three Counties Agricultural Society
Willans LLP solicitors has been announced as the official legal partner and sponsor of Three Counties Agricultural Society.
The partnership will see the Cheltenham-headquartered firm supporting the society’s prestigious events, including the Royal Three Counties Show, Malvern Autumn Show and the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, all held at the Three Counties Showground near Malvern.
The collaboration between the law firm and the registered charity is said to reflect a shared commitment to promoting agriculture, horticulture, and rural enterprise across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire.
As part of the agreement, Willans LLP will provide expert legal services, including real estate, commercial, governance and charity law advice, helping Three Counties to navigate complex legal landscapes with confidence.
Bridget Redmond, Willans’ managing partner, said: “The partnership reflects our shared values and commitment to supporting the rural business community and we look forward to contributing our legal expertise to help Three Counties thrive.”
David Prescott, chief executive of Three Counties, said: “Willans’ professionalism and understanding of our needs have been evident throughout the partnership process, and we’re confident that this collaboration will bring lasting benefits to our organisation and stakeholders.”
Three Counties welcomes over a million visitors to its popular fundraising shows and venue hire events annually, all of which are held at the 90-acre Three Counties Showground.
By bringing industry leaders and experts together, including farmers, stockmen, equestrians, farriers, forestry and rural professionals, local artisans, food producers and more, the society aims to showcase rural enterprise for the benefit of the local economy and community.
* The Raikes Journal is a digital magazine and community interest company whose supporters believe, like us, that journalism about Gloucestershire is worth keeping alive. Everything you read here - original stories about our county - is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: QuoLux, Willans LLP, Gloucestershire College, Merrell People and Randall & Payne; our sponsors, Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.
If you upgrade to paid you’ll be part of this CIC too. We’re dedicated to championing the county, its businesses, charities, education and training providers, and to creating an even stronger community. If you upgrade to paid you’ll be able to see past the paywalls often put on our 2cnd and 3rd email editions of the week, that lock our archive after two weeks and our Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire series. You’ll be able to comment on our stories too.
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300 new apprentices begin training - but many firms are still missing out
September sees many start on an apprenticeship journey that will lead to incredible careers and future-proof businesses for years to come. So why is it that so many businesses still don't get it?
By Andrew Merrell.
Apprenticeships are back on the rise nationally, and more than 300 new apprentices have started at Gloucestershire College this month across sectors including engineering, IT and cyber and construction.
Fifty new employers have chosen the college, which has campuses in Gloucester, Cheltenham and the Forest of Dean, as their trusted training provider to develop talent to help their businesses thrive.
It takes the number of businesses the college has relationships with to provide apprenticeships and develop workforces to more than 1,000. It’s an upward trend which bucked the national picture, with numbers of apprentices declining nationally until last year.
Despite the positive numbers and huge investment being made by the college to ensure its facilities are the very best they can be, there is concern many companies continue to miss out.
As a result the college remains determined to reach out, not least with a special team ready to do almost everything a business needs to get their hands on a good wannabe apprentice.
Dawn Morgan, business development manager for apprenticeships in IT and professional services, says: “Many companies still think apprenticeships are only for school leavers, not realising they’re open to anyone aged 16 and over.”
What the college is working hard to get across to them is that the paperwork involved in taking on an apprentice, the task of finding an apprentice in the first place, vetting them, making sure the course is fit for purpose for each firm - all of that can all be done by the college and its dedicated team of experts.
Alan Mulrooney, business consultant for the construction sector, said: “While recruitment can be a challenge in any field, we work hard to bridge that gap by maintaining a strong pool of motivated, pre-screened candidates who are ready to start their careers.
“The key to a successful apprenticeship isn’t just finding a candidate — it’s creating the right environment to help them thrive.
“When employers commit to supporting their apprentices and work closely with the college, that’s when we see the most inspiring success stories.”
What about the costs?
Sarah Thorne, business consultant specialising in apprenticeships for education, local authorities, and housing associations, said: “Many employers still assume apprenticeships come with a high price tag, but with generous government funding and the apprenticeship levy, most or sometimes all of the training costs can be covered.
“For example, smaller businesses usually pay just 5 per cent of the training cost — and it’s often fully funded for apprentices aged 16 to 21.”
Bryony Smith, business consultant in finance, plumbing, and retail at the college, said: “Apprenticeships are one of the most effective tools businesses can use to develop their people — we offer them to our own staff.
“Upskilling through apprenticeships can help fill critical skills gaps, nurture leadership potential, and retain valuable team members.
“It’s no longer just about new hires; many talented employees are actively seeking structured development opportunities, and apprenticeships are a powerful way to provide that.”
The national picture…
While the college continues to reach out with the hand of friendship and support, some are a little bit more forthright about where the change needs to be.
Sir Philip Augur, an education expert who conducted a wide-ranging Review of Post-18 Education and Funding for the Government, put it like this in a recent Institute for Fiscal Studies podcast about post-16 education.
“Employers have to step up to the plate here. For employers, ‘I can’t get the staff’ is quite often an excuse for bad management.
“Now, on this occasion, they can’t get the staff because the skills aren’t there. But there needs to be honesty and self-appraisal on the part of employers.”
When we looked at the challenges earlier this year around the cyber security sector Andy Bates, of Gloucestershire College, said it was easy to point to colleges and tell them to train more people.
He said what was needed was a culture change at businesses to encourage them to bring more entry-level positions to the fore.
When we asked North Tower Consulting what it thought for that article, it sent us this statement: “We wholeheartedly agree with the view that the real challenge in the cyber sector isn’t just about attracting talent—it’s about businesses creating the right environment for training and development.
“The demand for cyber skills is at an all-time high, but without structured pathways into the industry, many talented individuals struggle to find their way in.
“This is precisely why we have embraced trainee positions and learning-on-the-job initiatives.
“We believe that investing in talent, rather than expecting fully qualified professionals to appear on the job market, is the key to building a workforce for the future.
“Cyber security is a constantly evolving field, and the best way to develop experts is through hands-on experience, mentorship, and a culture of continuous learning.
“One of the biggest advantages of this approach is diversity.
“By opening our doors to a wider pool of candidates - including career changers, apprentices, and those without traditional cyber backgrounds - we bring in fresh perspectives that drive innovation.”
Political parties of all colours might well champion apprenticeships verbally, but the details reveals a different picture.
Over the last 20 years ‘skills’ has been with the Department for Education, then the Department for Innovation, University and Skills, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, then back into education and it now sits with the Department for Work and Pensions.
While that merry-go-round was going on all parties continued to champion the vocational route, stressing how it deserved the same status as university, while the numbers completing apprenticeships actually collapsed.
In the year 2023 to 2024 official figures for the number of people who earned an apprenticeship was 178,220 - down by more than a third on when the apprenticeship levy (now called the skills and growth levy) was introduced in April 2017.
The levy being a 0.5 per cent tax on the annual pay bill of employers with an annual wage bill of over £3 million to fund new apprenticeship training programs.
As stated above, that trend was reversed last year when enrolment in apprenticeships rose - albeit by just two per cent.
To find out more visit Gloucestershire College’s apprenticeship page.
Read more: Here are the top five misconceptions they often encounter when speaking with employers. Read the article here.