Health and social care provider, Routes Healthcare, is a strong believer in the motto that it’s never too late to learn new skills and is set to extend its apprenticeship and training programme.
With 10 branches stretching across the north of England, the company already has 18 of its team working towards an apprenticeship. And it has now pledged to support 70% of its staff work towards a vocational qualification over the next 18 months.
It’s this ongoing commitment to its training across the organisation for new starters as well as existing staff that has led to it scooping Learning Unlimited’s May Employer of the Month award.
“The company has to be commended for its dedication to training,” said Carole Sydenham, Business Development Manager at Learning Unlimited in Manchester. “Routes Healthcare is really investing in its people through its apprenticeships from sector-based training and Level 2 apprenticeships through to Level 5 higher apprenticeships.”
Routes Healthcare has worked closely with Learning Unlimited to recruit and devise tailored training for apprentices across different departments across the business from support staff to people working out in the field.
Explained Sarah Mooney: “Apprenticeships are really important to our organisation. Some people come to us with natural ability but an apprenticeship gives them the opportunity to develop their skills and grow into their role and progress. We want to invest in the staff and our aim is to help even more employees achieve a vocational qualification over the next 12 to 18 months.”
Apprenticeships are offered to people at all levels of the organisation, said Sarah. “It’s never too late to learn new skills and whether people are joining us as school leavers or have been with us a while, we want to offer them the opportunity to learn.”
Senior staff have the chance to work towards Level 5 higher apprenticeships in areas such as management and leadership.
Apprenticeship training also gives staff at all levels of organisation the chance to develop their skills in maths and English too, she added. “Many people have the experience and knowledge of the sector but lack the maths and English skills needed. It can be a barrier for them to progress and learn more. An apprenticeship can break down those barriers.”
As part of this, Routes Healthcare also works with Learning Unlimited to provide work sector-based training that is designed to meet recruitment needs and is tailored to meet the needs of the business. It normally includes English, maths and computer skills and customer service as well as bespoke elements related to the role employees will be working in.
