APPRENTICESHIP learning is on the increase in York and North Yorkshire.

As this week marks National Apprenticeship Week (Monday – Friday, March 4-8), figures just released show the number of apprentices studying at Askham Bryan on the outskirts of York have gone up by 3.7 per cent for the year 2017/18 – from a total of 868 for 2016/17, to the most recent figure of 900.

Askham Bryan has partnerships with about 800 employers across the North with its main campus in York, and satellites in Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Cumbria, specialising in rural-based education. Some 5,000 students, plus a further 900 apprentices, study on courses ranging from agriculture to vet nursing, horticulture and engineering.

Chief executive, Catherine Dixon, who is soon to step down from her post, said: “This method of learning is a very effective way of up-skilling young people who literally earn while they learn; it not only benefits the individual’s future career prospects and assists employers by increasing their employee’s skills, but also helps to boost the local economy. Askham Bryan has run apprenticeship courses for many years and thus we have huge experience and knowledge.”

The college works in partnership with an extensive range of businesses and organisations providing apprentices with the technical skills and national qualifications needed to complement their employment learning. An Awards Evening will be held at the College on Wednesday (March 6) to recognise the achievements of some two dozen young people as well as employers and tutors.

Amongst those currently studying at Askham Bryan are Archie Lamb, 16, from Thirsk, Mathew Craggs,17, from Rosedale near Pickering and April Wimmer, 19, from Easingwold who are employed by North York Moors National Park. All three are studying for their Level 2 diplomas in environmental conservation.

Archie said: “The apprenticeship works really well for me, I’m loving it – it’s been a great decision. Most of the time I’m working outside then I go to Askham Bryan for three days a month for my portfolio work and to learn the business and technical side of things.”

Practical skills acquired in the work place such as fence and footpath maintenance, bridge and gate building, and clearing rights of way, are underpinned by technical knowledge taught at the York campus.

"In addition it is an efficient and effective way of gaining the all-important ‘tickets’ - the qualifications required to demonstrate competence in skills such as chain saw handling."

Steve Young, of the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “We’ve worked with Askham Bryan on the apprenticeship programme since 2005 and it’s very successful. It was set up to train a pool of youngsters in traditional practical skills with the necessary qualifications and business skills to complement them, and it does just that.”