It takes two... building a successful partnership to deliver Apprenticeships training

Apprenticeships offer a unique opportunity to combine day-to-day experience in the workplace with skills training delivered by specialist trainers. We look back on 10 years of working with our main professional services training provider, Abingdon and Witney College (AWC).

Overview

The Unversity Apprenticeships team have been working with the AWC for almost 10 years to help develop our employees through Apprenticeship training. Since 2017, we have partnered with them as our main provider and this has meant we have a member of the college's team embedded within the university to support the growth of Apprenticeships.

So far, we have had over 200 employees on Apprenticeship training with AWC, made up of new entrant apprentices and existing employees accessing the training to support their professional development.

We asked Abingdon & Witney College for their thoughts on working with the University of Oxford:

We are extremely proud to tell people that we are the preferred training provider for the University of Oxford and value the partnership we have with you. We think part of what makes the partnership so strong is the fact that the relationship is based around our shared ethics, values and approach to apprenticeships. We know that the organisation empowers departments and managers to support with the development of apprenticeship opportunities, who in turn see the huge value and diversity that these individuals bring to the University.

- Abingdon & Witney College

Our apprentices thoughts...

Don't take our word for it... we asked some of our learners for their thoughts on the college:

Abingdon & Witney College are fantastic. The tutors take a personal approach to the service which they provide students, and each of them have different qualities which give the course a well-rounded learning environment. I’m a more mature student yet I’m treated no different because of this. 
Highly professional, while still personable.

- Shaun Harman, Level 6 Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship

Abingdon & Witney College have made it possible to work and learn at the same time through their apprenticeships. As an older apprentice I wouldn’t of been able to have achieved this any other way so highly appreciate the opportunity I have been given to learn as I earn.

- Lucy Hunt, Level 3 & 4 Business Administration Apprenticeship

Abingdon and Witney (AWC) have been a great provider since the start of the apprenticeship. One of the best things about AWC is how they have provided support with our End Point Assessment (EPA). An EPA is an review of what we do at our job, so for me my work in Research accounts within Oxford Uni. They have held several sessions as a group of all AAT apprentices, within these sessions they answer any questions and have explained where we should be in terms of progress.

The study in actual lessons is very good and attentive. They have also adapted to social distancing in classroom and online sessions. This has helped with keeping engaged in the Apprenticeship during the changes that are happening.

- Christian Murzell, Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship

My assessor from Abingdon and Witney college really helped me through my management course by closely linking the syllabus to my job role, making the objectives more relevant. 

I also really enjoyed the weekly sessions at the college (back when we were allowed), as these bought together a few of us on the same course, where we were able to share ideas, and discuss our own management styles.

- Michael Truby, Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor Apprenticeship

I have really enjoyed completing my apprenticeship with Abingdon and Witney College as they make the experience such an informative learning experience. They have been brilliant at communicating this from the start and throughout the course, offering us many extra opportunities to develop personally and at work.

- Teya Agnese, Level 2 & 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship

Award winners

Gemma Burgess, Winner of the Training Provider Individual Award at the University Apprenticeship Awards 2020

Abingdon & Witney have won many awards for their training in recent years. One of these includes a new award at our own 'Expo and Awards Event 2020' where Gemma Burgess won the 'Training Coordinator of the Year' award.

The apprentice nominated Gemma because,

Gemma has an enthusiasm for her work and a knack of bringing out the most in my assignments and personal statements that help me fulfil the learning criteria.

APPRENTICE TRAINING PROVIDER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2020

Other awards:

• Abingdon & Witney College are one of the top 50 higher education providers in the UK
• Abingdon & Witney College are the winners of the Large Training Provider of the Year Award at the 2020 AAT Training Provider Awards
• Abingdon & Witney College take home Engineering and Manufacturing Apprenticeship Provider of the Year

The courses

The courses below are some of the most popular Apprenticeship programmes we have employees on. 

For more information about all of our Apprenticeships, head to the University of Oxford Apprenticeships page.

January 2021