The learning statistics that speak for themselves at award finalist

As an organisation that makes a major impact on UK decision making, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) prides itself on recruiting and training a high quality workforce.

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With 2,177 employees, the ONS has committed to deliver 2.3% of its Welsh workforce as Apprenticeship starts, equating to 44 each year at its Newport headquarters.

It is an ambitious programme that has been implemented over the past 18 months co-ordinated by ALS Training, with no less than eight apprenticeship frameworks currently delivered, including the pioneering Data Analytics Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship Programme.

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Now ONS has been shortlisted for this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru. The company will be competing to become Large Employer of the Year at the prestigious awards ceremony at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport on November 9.

The annual awards are designed to showcase and celebrate the outstanding achievements of learners, employers, tutors and assessors who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s Traineeships and Apprenticeship Programmes.

Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the coveted awards are supported by media partner, Media Wales. The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Thirty star employers, learners and learning providers from across Wales have been shortlisted for the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru.

“ONS has embraced Apprenticeships during 2017/18,” said Jo Ford, ONS’s talent, inclusion and apprenticeship lead. “We now have more than 100 apprentices enrolled on a variety of apprenticeships who are either new to ONS, or existing staff who have taken up the programmes as part of their career development.

“These programmes span different professions such as Data Analytics, Leadership and Management, Team Leading, Business Administration, HR, Learning and Development, Customer Service, Commercial and Marketing.”

The flagship Data Analytics Level 4, developed with ALS Training to deliver a qualification fit for the analyst world, is a key element of ONS’s capability plan to shape how it hires, develops and retains a high performing workforce.

“ONS is an exemplar for organisational collaboration on Apprenticeship Programmes,” said Helena Williams, director at ALS Training.

“ONS has demonstrated an understanding of the value of the Apprenticeship Programmes on offer to those entering employment from across Wales and beyond, with outreach programmes to schools and recruitment of apprentices who have relocated from England to take up the opportunity.”

ONS’s Apprenticeship Programme is championing the Welsh Government’s vision for young people to get the best start in life by promoting apprenticeships as a high quality and prestigious path to successful careers.

Congratulating ONS on being shortlisted for an award, Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning, Eluned Morgan said: “Apprenticeship Awards Cymru showcase the success of the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeships and Traineeships Programmes and the achievements of our star apprentices, employers, learning providers and trainees.

“Apprenticeships are a great way for individuals to gain valuable skills and experience while earning a wage and for employers to ensure their workforce has the skills to future proof a business.

“Increasing higher level skills and developing skills pathways that benefit the whole of Wales have never been more important.”