News

The first-ever awards ceremony for the Young Apprentices in Business was held on Friday 4 May 2007 at the University Centre Barnsley (UCB) in their brand new TV Studio. UCB worked collaboratively with Barnsley Local Authority in order to create the Young Apprenticeship Challenge 2007.

This brand new challenge involves groups of motivated and aspiring Year 11 students from Barnsley schools working in small teams alongside business staff and student mentors from UCB, to set up a ‘mini’ business and raise as much money as possible for their chosen charitable organisation.

Their chosen charities were, Barnsley Hospice, Bluebell Wood and NETTS. Collectively, the teams raised over £3,000 for the charities and were awarded with certificates and prizes for their hard work and achievements. The groups presented their project to a group of panel members made up of local business people including, John Foster of Fosters Bakery, Nick Forde of Brooklands Hotel and Dr. Cathy Doggett, Head of UCB.

This entrepreneurial activity has allowed the students to successfully apply knowledge learnt and skills developed during their Young Apprenticeship programme, as well as helped to raise their aspirations and encourage their progression into higher education.

The Young Apprenticeship programme is a DfES national pilot for aspiring 14-16 year olds, where the students study a vocational qualification as well as participate in 50 days of work experience and enrichment activities over the two year programme.