CILEx Supports National Apprenticeship Week

24 February 2014

Kempston based employer, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), is supporting National Apprenticeship Week which takes place from 3 to 7 March. CILEx is a firm believer in the value of apprenticeships and this month employed two new Business Administration Apprentices in addition to the two apprentices already working at the CILEx Group.

Janet Bishop, HR Manager at the CILEx Group said: “Being a large employer in Kempston we are really proud of our commitment to developing local talent by enabling people to get into the workplace. We have employed apprentices for more than three years and all those who have completed their apprenticeship qualifications have gone on to secure permanent jobs at the company. We practise what we preach by not only promoting the benefits of apprenticeships to the legal sector, but by employing apprentices from the local community too.”

Janet is also an Apprenticeship Ambassador for Mayor of Bedford, Dave Hodgson’s ‘2016 in 2016’ Apprenticeship Challenge: a commitment that Bedford Borough would see at least 2016 apprenticeships created per year by 2016. Janet’s role is to encourage other local employers to step up to the Apprenticeship Challenge.

19-year-old Kathryn Jack completed her Business Administration Apprenticeship with the CILEx Group last year and is now employed as a Customer Advisor. She is also an Apprenticeship Ambassador for the ‘2016 in 2016’ project and she will visit schools and young people in the borough and talk about the benefits of becoming an apprentice.

Kathryn said: “I left school after my GCSEs as I knew I wanted to work and start developing my career. Completing my Advanced Apprenticeship in Business Administration has been such a great experience and to end up with a full-time, permanent job is fantastic.”

Mayor of Bedford, Dave Hodgson said: “We’re ambitious for apprenticeships in Bedford Borough, as our ‘2016 in 2016’ Apprenticeship Challenge shows. If we are to achieve 2016 new apprenticeships per year by 2016 it will need all partners, including employers, to show real commitment to this goal. The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives is setting a great example in this respect, and I wish all of their apprentices the very best for a successful apprenticeship and a long and rewarding future career.”

CILEx is the awarding body for Legal Services Apprenticeships which were successfully launched in England and Wales last year. Legal services providers, including both international and high-street law firms, have welcomed the opportunity to employ and develop in-house talent via the Legal Services Apprenticeship route. On completion, the apprentices receive nationally recognised qualifications and can go on to study further qualifications to become Chartered Legal Executive lawyers.

CILEx will be attending a number of events during National Apprenticeship Week. CILEx will also be hosting a twitter chat on Tuesday, 4 March from 5pm to 7pm, follow #NAWlegal or @CILExLawyers to join in.

ENDS

Photo: Mayor of Bedford Dave Hodgson (back row, left) stands with Janet Bishop, CILEx HR Manager, (front row, left) Kathryn Jack, Apprenticeship Ambassador (back row, centre) and apprentices and former apprentices employed at the CILEx Group.