Issue 7 April 2019 - the dedicated newsletter of Maxim Business Training Manifesto delivers on its ambitious pledge “We also wanted to promote our higher apprenticeships offer for employers to use for upskilling their existing staff, and progressing them into leadership and management positions. We set ourselves a very challenging target - 100 apprenticeships in just 100 days - but we did it.” The College has recently published its five-year Strategic Plan to 2023, by which time it intends to become truly ‘Outstanding’ in all aspects of teaching, skills training and pedagogy. Key to the College’s continued growth Team effort: Macclesfield College has achieved the seemingly impossible target set out will be the ongoing expansion of its by its Manifesto, of recruiting 100 apprentices from across East Cheshire, in just 100 days. apprenticeships programme, and WHEN Macclesfield College Not only has the Manifesto achieved the team at Maxim is keen to liaise announced that it was pledging to a total of 136 new apprenticeship with more employers, to actively recruit and train 100 local apprentices positions across East Cheshire, but promote the benefits apprentices in just 100 days back in January it has also highlighted no fewer than can bring to businesses. of this year, many were aghast at 38 new vacancies region-wide that The event ended with a review of this seemingly unattainable target. the Maxim team is currently looking the College’s exceptional performance to fill with suitable candidates from However, just over three months in the latest National Achievement its burgeoning talent pool. later, that’s exactly what has been Rate Tables, published in March. achieved... and with room to spare. The Manifesto drive culminated in a Taken right across the Cheshire and Endorsed by the College’s dynamic high-profile event, taking place on Friday Warrington sub-region, Macclesfield and highly experienced Principal 5th April at the College’s campus, College was confirmed as the best- and Chief Executive, Rachel Kay attended by representatives from performing FE institution for ‘overall and driven by Director of Employer participating businesses, as well as education and training’ for all age groups, Enterprise and Commercial Services, key local dignitaries such as MP for as well as being the clear regional Tracy Cosgrave, the Macclesfield Macclesfield and long-term friend of leader in the 16-to -18 category. Manifesto has actually resulted in the College, David Rutley and the town’s As regards apprenticeships, the College 104 new apprenticeship enrolments Mayor, Councillor Adam Schofield. truly excelled itself with achievement across East Cheshire, with a further Addressing the specially invited rates across all ages and all levels 32 candidates also recruited and audience, Director of Employer standing at 7.2% above the national waiting to be enrolled on a high quality Enterprise and Commercial Services, average. Overall achievement across work-based programme via Maxim. Tracy Cosgrave said: “The last three Levels 2 and 3 provision stood at 6.8% The Macclesfield Manifesto was and a half years have seen us all work above, whilst figures for its higher developed with the specific intent of tirelessly to develop an outstanding level provision were found to be an engaging with the region’s young apprenticeship offer. We have worked incredible 19% above the national learners and training them with the with employers and supported them average. For its 24+ provision, the specific skills today’s companies and in recruiting and training their staff, story was even more impressive, with organisations need to maintain and providing them with their future Macclesfield College’s performance enhance their success in an increasingly workforce who have the skills needed rated at a staggering 25.2% above competitive commercial environment. so that they can sustain and grow.” the national average. part of Tel: 01625 410022 02 // Maxim News Issue 7 - April 2019 determination to succeed, and to College apprentice becomes Macclesfield College who have been fantastic throughout the entire process.” the first to gain a distinction As she has demonstrated time and time again in the year or so that she has been with Macclesfield College, Sharona is dedicated to maximising her employability and furthering her career potential and, true to form, she took the opportunity whilst attending the Open Day event, to sign up for a Business Admin Level 3 course. Her Mentor and Assessor at the College, Debbie Sandhu believes that the sky is the limit for Sharona and anticipates an even closer working relationship developing between Macclesfield College and Endress + Hauser. “We’re going to progress now and she has enrolled First-class candidate: Level 2 Customer Service Apprentice, Sharona McIlroy has become on a Business Admin Level 3 course. the first young learner on the College’s far-reaching apprenticeship programme to gain Sharona is absolutely fantastic. She’s a distinction. so positive. She always does what MACCLESFIELD COLLEGE is get straight into a job role, as that’s you ask her to do. delighted to announce that one where I feel I am the most useful.” of its young apprentice learners has just received the ultimate “For the first 12 months,” Sharona accolade of a distinction, following elaborates, “I had to compile a showcase of everything I had learned the completion of her course. “The quality of her work is really, and then, a few weeks ago, City & really good and she’s such a lovely 18 year-old Sharona McIlroy from Guilds came in to my workplace to girl to work with. We’ve had a great Romiley, near Stockport, Cheshire assess me working for my EPA (End working relationship,” confirms Debbie. has achieved the highest grade Point Assessment). This took the “Endress + Hauser will no doubt keep possible in her studies, after form of an hour-long discussion, her and I can see her progressing finishing a Customer Service followed by another hour observing really quickly, because she’s very Level 2 Apprenticeship. me working at my desk. The Assessor proactive, she’s very motivated and from City & Guilds also appraised she’s done so well. The first one to A young woman with self-evident me on three different areas of the go through at the level of a distinction. ambition, an assiduous approach course, before awarding me with my Sharona is an absolute star.” to learning and a relentless drive to distinction, of which I am immensely succeed in today’s hugely competitive proud.” “Our relationship with Endress + jobs marketplace, Sharona is an As the first apprentice learner at Hauser is excellent and can only get excellent role model for young stronger, going forward,” Debbie learners across East Cheshire. Macclesfield College to gain a coveted ‘distinction’, Sharona was invited to continues. “We started with Sharona and now we have got three more Prior to her beginning her attend the recent Apprenticeships young learners that I am working with, apprenticeship with Macclesfield Open Day event on campus (Thursday as a direct result. Endress + Hauser College and her current employer - 7th March, 2019) alongside key are really happy with our service and global instrumentation and process representatives from Endress + the company is looking to recruit two automation specialist, Endress + Hauser and her Training Mentor at more apprentices, one in customer Hauser based in Wythenshawe, the company, Sophie Cotton. “Sharona service and another in marketing.” South Manchester - Sharona attended has been a real breath of fresh air in Aquinas College in Stockport with her time with us, here at Endress + Family-owned Endress + Hauser the initial intention of studying for Hauser,” comments Sophie. “She is a Swiss-based global leader in her A-Levels. “Whilst at Aquinas is progressing really quickly and has measurement instrumentation, College, I was undecided about the already moved three departments. services and solutions for industrial path that I wanted to follow,” says Sharona has got her permanent process engineering. It supplies Sharona, “so I thought I would apply contract now and her remarkable equipment to measure flow levels, to Macclesfield College for a work- achievements to date are a clear pressure and temperature across based apprenticeship where I could testament, both to her diligence and (continued on Page 3) part of Tel: 01625 410022 03 // Maxim News Issue 7 - April 2019 It is a company with a long and proud As regards Sharona’s immediate history of developing, investing in and longer-term future, she has no and training young people. doubt that this lies with Endress + Hauser and is very excited by the In 2013, Endress + Hauser addressed prospect of further career advancement the regional shortfall in skilled within the company. “I’ve got one engineers, by launching its £650,000 more year left as an apprentice Application, Training and Engineering nd then I will be moving into a Centre. Complementing the permanent job with the company. company’s own in-house apprentice and graduate schemes, the Centre “At the moment, I’m going around all Track record for excellence: Wythenshawe based Endress + Hauser has a proven features a 12-seater classroom fitted the departments within the company and solid reputation for investing in, with state-of-the-art audio-visual for two years, until I become full-time, developing and training young people. equipment and interactive software, and from that I will pick which area a wide range of industries, from as well as a purpose-built workshop I think suits me the most. Up until brewing and food manufacturing, and operational environment to allow now, I have only visited three areas to chemicals, pharmaceuticals, its trainees to get “hands-on” with of the business, but I am eventually water, wastewater, oil and gas. the equipment.