National Apprenticeship Week 2019 runs from 4 to 8 March 2019 and ARC is one of the many organisations across the country that is taking the opportunity to celebrate the success of its apprenticeship programme and the contribution made by apprentices to the organisation.
ARC is a charity based on Stockton-on-Tees in north-east England that uses arts and cultural activity to engage and strengthen communities locally, and nationally. As part of its activity, it runs a successful music, theatre and comedy venue that also has its own on site café bar.
ARC currently has a number of apprentices working across the organisation in the programming, hospitality, marketing, and technical departments. As well as current apprentices, a number of ARC’s full-time staff have successfully made the transition into full-time employment at ARC after originally joining on apprenticeships.
Cheryl Carter originally began working part-time behind the bar at ARC and, as an adult apprentice, started on a Hospitality and Supervisory Leadership programme and has now graduated to a full-time role as Assistant Catering Manager.
In other departments, Grace Allen has progressed from being Arts Administrator Apprentice to a full-time role as Community Events and Engagement Coordinator; Andrew Goodwill quickly progressed from being an apprentice in the marketing department to a permanent position as Marketing Assistant, and Nick Hare started as a Technical Apprentice in 2014 and is now Deputy Technical Manager working on a wide range of live music, comedy and theatre events.
Annabel Turpin, Chief Executive of ARC, said:
“Our apprentices are brilliant! They bring huge energy, fresh thinking and new perspectives to ARC. As an employer, we have reaped the benefits of investing in them so many times over, as many have gone on to fill permanent roles within the organisation. In an area where recruitment can be challenging, taking a longer term view around growing our own staff has definitely paid off.”
Current apprentices at ARC include Hayley Pink (Digital Marketing Apprentice), Holly Blythman (Community Arts Apprentice), Polly Abbott (Programmes Arts Administrator Apprentice), Délionie Bazil (Apprentice Chef), James Wiggington (Technical Apprentice), and Reese Harrison (Café Bar Apprentice).
Nineteen-year old Andrew Goodwill, Marketing Assistant and former apprentice, said:
“After finishing school, going on to further academic study wasn’t something I really wanted to do. Getting an apprenticeship at ARC has given me on the job training that has led to qualifications and the ability to progress into a career that I really love.”
National Apprenticeship Week, coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, is designed to celebrate the positive impact apprenticeships and traineeships have on individuals, businesses and the economy.