This years Spring Team Forum was a huge success, with over 100 attendees! The theme this time was 'The Challenge of recruiting 16-18 year old Apprentices'. The event was sponsored by OneFile and they are a market-leading provider of online assessment software for Apprenticeships, QCF, NVQ, SVQ and BTEC.
The main meeting's speakers included MP Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, Vic Grimes, Head of the National Apprenticeship Service for London and the South East, Richard Eason, CEO of the Hillingdon Association for Voluntary Services and Laurence George, JGA’s 19 year old Advanced Marketing Apprentice (pictured below).
As ever there was a variety of workshops, including a great workshop on 'The Importance of Social Media'. There were also many displays on show during the breaks, including displays from OneFile, notgoingtouni, JGA's E-Learning and AFTB (Hillingdon Association for the Blind). All money raised from the Spring Team Forum Raffle was donated to AFTB, and Christina Hind was there to represent the charity, and she thanked all the attendees for their support.
JGA would like to thank the speakers, guests and all those who helped in the preparation and organisation of Team Forum.
We hope everyone found the day useful, and we look forward to seeing everyone again at the Autumn Team Forum on
Friday 8th November.
Apprentice Oyster Photocard: To kick start the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, announced a new scheme that will enable London Resident Apprentices in the first year of an apprenticeship to get 30 per cent off adult rate travelcards and bus & tram pass season tickets. The scheme is due to be launched in May. Further details about the scheme are available on the Transport for London website at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/27387.aspx.
Annual Employer Breakfast:
In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week JGA held its Annual Employer Breakfast, in which Marketing Apprentice Laurence George captivated the audience with a presentation on his own experience and with a video that he'd filmed and created sharing the thoughts of other apprentices and their employers. Many employers got out of bed early to attend, and they were not disappointed... "I found the event very inspiring and exceptionally well organised". Watch out for an article about this event in the next issue of the Uxbridge Gazette.
Apprenticeship Open Day:
JGA also held an Apprenticeship Open Day for potential candidates. The session was led by Apprenticeship Account Manager Beata Malek and Marketing Apprentice Laurence George. After hearing from Beata and Laurence the large group of young people had no hesitation in registering with JGA. A number of attendees have already been scheduled interviews with employers.
Jobcentre Plus:
JGA visited Willesden, Uxbridge and Harrow Jobcentre during National Apprenticeship Week to deliver presentations to potential candidates so they could get a feel for Apprenticeships and how JGA Apprenticeships work. Those who met the age and qualification requirements and wanted to register were seen one to one by a member of JGA's Apprenticeship Team.
Kew Little Pigs:
One of JGA's Assessor's Trishul Gudka recently visited Kew Little Pigs. Trishul was there to check the progress of a JGA Marketing Apprentice. Kew Little Pigs have a garden farm in Kew, South West London, in which they home micro pigs. You can buy or even adopt these micro pigs at very good prices. For more information visit: http://www.kewlittlepigs.com/home/.
Canons High School:
-One of JGA's Careers Advisers Carlos Bishop recently starred in Canon's Newsletter.
-Carlos has been providing independent and impartial careers advice to year 11 students
at the school since Septmeber 2012.
-Mr Mackie, Head of Year 11 commented: "This year, for the first time, students have
been stopping me to say how useful their careers interview has been." Praise indeed!
-Well done Carlos - pictured right.
JGA Means Business:
No room for the business at home? Then rent a desk at JGA’s Eastcote centre.
-The JGA Group has desks and offices which are fully serviced, secure and have free wifi connections from as little as £35 per week.
-Best of all there is a minimum of 1 month for bookings, so that if it doesn’t work out for you, you can move out without incurring high costs!
-JGA also has Conference, Interview and Board rooms available to book at hourly rates.
-For more information call Susan on020 8426 2666or emailsusan.prestridge@jga-group.co.uk
E-Learning:
-Unlike other training providers the JGA Group isn't getting left in the past with technology. JGA Apprenticeships are completed using online learning; we call this E-learning.
-To complete an apprenticeship you would normally need to go to a college once a week and complete paper based work. However, at JGA we believe that this method is old and no longer practical in the modern world.
-JGA allows its learners to complete their apprenticeship work on their laptops/computers anytime and anywhere with an internet connection. This stops you having to miss a day of work every week and will save you money on travelling to college.
-All your assignments are saved and uploaded to our secure and safe online platform, so you will never have the worry of your work being lost or destroyed, as E-learning is paperless.
-E-Learning fits around your life-stlye and is easy to use. So what are you waiting for, if your aged 16-24 with GCSE's grade A-C in English and Maths apply for a JGA Apprenticeship.
-Colleges and Training Providers listen up!
If you're interested in using JGA's E-learning Package and want to find out more then click here.
News from Overseas:
-We are in the middle of delivering a new JGA Customer Service Programme for the Gibraltar Audit Department.
-This involves one-to-one interviews with department members, discussions with government departments who have recently had audits, half day training sessions and a number of reports.
-Our representative delivering this programme in Gibraltar is Anthea McWatt. This is quite a tall order to cover in the time available.
-Also in Gibraltar, JGA has agreed to work with a small organisation called the HR Department. More information to follow…
24+ Advanced Learning Loan:
24+ Advanced Learning Loans are being introduced by the Government for learners aged 24 and over studying at level 3 and above from 1 August 2013.
Eligibility:
-Aged 24 or over at the start of your chosen course;
-Resident in the UK;
-Undertaking an eligible course at an approved college or training organisation in England.
-JGA is offering impartial careers advice to year 11 students at Canons High School!
-JGA is offering Free one to one sessions for executives.
-The National Careers Service is now offering FREE Advice for 18 year olds who are not currently in education, employment or training?
Retail Training Partnership Between JGA and Heathrow:
-JGA taught Arabic and Mandarin to employees at Heathrow Airport in partnership with Heathrow's Retail Academy.
-Another successful Mandarin course took place in March. Click here to see how it went.
-Russian tutor position has been filled, and the classes are now underway.
-We are now lookingfor an Arabic Tutor: Apply for this job
Find your Future - learning about local apprenticeships
Zolzaya first found out about a JGA Apprenticeship in Marketing from the National Apprenticeship Service website only two days before. By the end of her meeting with Beata Malek, from JGA, Zolzaya was matched with a marketing vacancy in a translation and interpreting company in central London.
She is pictured below with three more potential apprentices, Alysha, Ben and Amran, talking to Beata.
JGA are not only telling young people aged 16-18 all about apprenticeships, but also are matching their young applicants with real jobs across west London. Jane Goodwin, Managing Director of JGA, explained, “We are part of the national drive to find work and training which gives young people the best possible chance to begin a rewarding working life. Apprenticeships are the future.”
Ashley, from Hayes, emailed JGA in response to their introduction to apprenticeships to say, “I am even more driven to get started on an apprenticeship. I like the fact that there is small group learning and I will be getting paid.”
Anyone who wants to know more about apprenticeship opportunities should contact the Apprenticeship Team on 020 8426 2666 or email trainingservices@jga-group.co.uk
The secret of FREE
or half-price travel
for Apprentices A scheme began which
means 16-18 year olds who are living
in London and in full-time education -
including Apprentices - can claim FREE
travel on buses and half-price travel
on TfL(Transport for London services).
It’s called 16+ Zip Oyster Photocard, it costs £10 and it could save you
loads of money on buses, trams, the tube, DLR and London Overground.
We don’t know why there hasn’t been more publicity about this, but now
you know, apply at your Post Office or on-line. Of course, there is a form
to fill in and rules to follow, but if you are doing an Apprenticeship with
JGA we can stamp your application.
National Apprenticeship Week was a great success once again!
We thank everyone who attended our events and of course JGA staff who worked extremely hard.
They also formed into a panel and took some challenging questions from the audience.
From Left: Laurence George, Richard Eason, Nick Hurd & Vic Grimes.
Richard Eason admiring the raffle prizes.
Spencer Mehlman, CEO of notgoingtouni, showing off his display.
