Qube Learning meet with Priory Group to discuss our partnership to date and exciting plans for the future ahead!
Throughout National Apprenticeship Week 2019 Qube Learnings board of directors have hit the road to visit Trainees and Apprentices in their place of work, to gain an insight in to their day to day life as a student. In addition to this they have also met with Employers to discuss plans for the future within their business and partnership with Qube. Qube Learning Operations Director Tony Holloway, met with Priory Group’s Career & Apprenticeships Manager, Carel Strydom to discuss our partnership to date and what 2019 has in store for both businesses’.
The catch up began with Carel disclosing Priory Group’s aims and aspirations of Apprenticeships within the Group over the next 12 to 24 months.
“We hope to continue where the group left off at the end of 2018, we started with 2 Apprentices in January 2018 and ended the year with 536. We’re looking to not only replicate but exceed that with 500 – 800 new starts across the 12 months. Although this may only seem like a fraction of the 20,000 staff currently employed with The Priory – it massively supports the business and the ‘Career pathways strategy’ introduced within the group in 2018. The ‘Career pathways strategy’ is designed to take, for example, and ‘Adult Care worker’ up to a ‘Registered manager’ to ‘Ops manager’ and ‘Managing Director’ – and who knows, the CEO!”
Qube Learning Operations Director Tony was interested in what the perceived impact and the benefits to Priory Group were by using and employing Apprentices?
“There are two approaches to the strategy of utilising the Apprenticeship Levy – first being ‘Young Apprentices’ who join the business earning an Apprenticeship wage or above; Recently we had one who has achieved and was near enough immediately promoted to ‘Junior Coordinator’. Within the rest of the business, last year we spent over half a million pounds of our Apprenticeship Levy on professional learning. We see the huge benefit of utilising the Apprenticeship Levy to do so, not having to use the company’s budget for such training is hugely beneficial.”
Not only do Priory Group see the Apprenticeship Levy as a huge benefit to the business and their employees but they agreed that Apprenticeship programmes are key to their strategy by using it to bring in fresh young talent and also to upskill and develop current staff. Carel stated not only do Priory Group “continue to bring young people in the business, in 2019 we’ll be concentrating on the 17+ Provision along with currently increasing ‘Nursing’ staff to fill skills gaps nationwide”
It was fantastic to hear that the Priory Group recognise achievers across the business on a regular basis and also via their annual ‘Pride Awards’. Previously the awards didn’t include an ‘Apprenticeships’ section however as of 2019 an ‘Apprenticeship’ section along with ‘National Apprentice of the Year’ award will feature – great to hear!
Priory Group were delighted to be informed that their staff member ‘Abbi Cooper’, currently on programme with Qube Learning, has been nominated for ‘Young Apprentice of the Year’ at the Qube Awards 2019. Carel stated “Abbi first came to the group at 16 years old, where she began her Apprenticeship at our Bristol based office. Once Abbi has achieved her current Apprenticeship we’ll be looking to enrol her on to the next level Apprenticeship and promote her further within the business. Abbi’s a great ambassador within Priory Group and is really looking forward to the awards!”
Tony Holloway, Qubes Operations Director disclosed that “Qube are continuously looking to evolve, improve and give employers what they need out of the Apprenticeship programme. Is there a particular direction you would like to Qube go in?”
Carel Strydom, Career & Apprenticeships Manager of Priory Group was aware that “Qube provide a large range of Apprenticeships in different sectors so the offerings are definitely there already. Generally, there are no problems and any small tweaks are always well received and rectified quickly. Moving forward, Priory Group are looking to tap in to level 6 and 7 Apprenticeships. I’m aware of the Level 6 ‘Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship’ Qube have to offer, if the Level 6 and 7 offering was greater there’s the opportunity to progress with you there by Qube becoming prime provider of the full ‘Career pathway’ at The Priory.”
Qube Learning and Priory Group have worked together for over 3 years to date – the business partnership has evolved massively in the last 12 months going from strength to strength for both parties. What this joint venture has to offer during 2019 and beyond is exciting and inspiring to say the least.
