Are you struggling to recruit staff who are enthusiastic and eager to learn or would you like to work within the animal care industry? In my role as Training Advisor for Animal Care Apprenticeships, my job is bringing employers and apprentices together!

As a Training Advisor for Animal Care Apprenticeships I help employers and potential apprentices of all ages to secure a placement within a variety of animal sectors. Watching apprentices grow within their placement is a pleasure to see and be a part of. Our apprentices work in a variety of environments from dog grooming, boarding and re-homing centres and doggie day care centres. They are keen to learn and progress in their chosen field.

One such student is Maria Poeti from Glastonbury. Maria joined the programme last academic year and is gaining valuable skills working in the dog grooming industry.  Maria said,

“After several years in an administrative role I felt it was time to have a career change. I decided to enrol onto the Animal Care Apprenticeship with a Dog Grooming pathway at Bridgwater College, with the support of my employer, Canine Design Academy of Grooming in Evercreech. I’m learning new skills on a daily basis and receive ongoing support from my employer doing something I thoroughly enjoy.”

It’s a pleasure to see our apprentices grow in their placements with the support of their employer and colleagues. Our apprentices, of all ages, are keen to learn new skills and progress by gaining knowledge to achieve their Level 2 qualification. One of the great features of the apprenticeship programme is that students are able to enrol at any time, they are not restricted by the traditional academic year which is also hugely beneficial to employers.

Jerry King, General Manager, Whitehouse Kennels & Cattery said,

“For some young people, class-based education is just not right for them. Earning whilst learning on a modern Apprenticeship makes more sense, and for us as an employer provides us with very employable and capable employees who are keen to learn.”

Apprentices attend Bridgwater College for one day every fortnight, giving them the opportunity to learn additional animal related skills which will complement the work they do with their employer. It also gives them a chance to develop wider employability skills such as communication and self-confidence, which are so important in the work place. During the College day, the apprentices will mix with other apprentices on the programme allowing the apprentices to learn from each other’s experiences.

If you are interested in finding out more information about the Apprenticeship programmes we offer or about our Animal Care, Animal Management and Animal Conservation courses please call our Information and Guidance team on 01278 441234.