A special apprentice open evening is to take place on 10th May as part of the joint Bishop Auckland College and Auckland Castle initiative to launch an apprenticeship academy.
This academy will equip youngsters with the expertise needed to capitalise on the £60m redevelopment of the former palace home of England’s only Prince Bishops.
Believed to be the first time an independently run heritage attraction and a college have teamed up in this way, the first Auckland Academy course gets underway on 5th September.
The open evening, which will run from 5.30pm and 7.30pm at Bishop Auckland College, will provide an insight into the academy’s training programme and its plans to develop the next generation of Bishop Auckland workers.
The aim of the event is to catch Year 11 pupils before they start their GCSEs as well as school leavers, and explain how they may be able to take advantage of the expected 100 new full and part-time posts predicted to be generated by Auckland Castle’s exciting restoration and expansion plans.
Camilla Race, Bishop Auckland College’s Employment Services Manager, who is in charge of the new academy, said: “Pupils, parents, teachers and careers advisors are all welcome at the open evening, which will highlight the apprenticeship opportunities available through the academy, as well as the many other training initiatives offered by the college.
“The Auckland Academy is set to make a significant contribution towards meeting the job opportunities that will become available at not just Auckland Castle but within the wider community as other businesses benefit from the developments.
“Students on the course will be able to test and widen their skills with sponsored placements.
“Not everyone who wins a place on the academy programme will be guaranteed a final job, but it will certainly give students a better chance of finding other skilled work and will set a benchmark for excellence.”
The Auckland Academy has grown from an existing affiliation between the castle and college.
This has already seen seven business administration, marketing and catering apprentices join Auckland Castle’s rapidly expanding workforce over the past nine months.
The charitable Auckland Castle Trust, which oversees the running of what is one of the UK’s most important historical buildings, needs to fill a variety of jobs from horticulturists to business administrators, maintenance, events and promotions staff, trainee chefs, customer service and hospitality workers.
As a whole Bishop Auckland College currently had 40-plus apprentice posts waiting to be filled with many employers in the area. These included roles as diverse as catering, social media, customer service, administration, plumbing, childcare, joinery and cookery.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
