The roles with businesses across the Liverpool city region are office-based business administration apprenticeships. Tony McDonough reports.

Firms across the Liverpool city region are looking to fill 22 apprenticeship vacancies in the next few weeks.

Liverpool and Sefton Chambers of Commerce is looking to help companies fill the business administration roles before the end of the year.

The call is part of a drive by the chamber to increase the number of apprentices placed with local firms beyond its current figure of 350.

The roles are office-based business administration apprenticeships.

Investing in young people

Paul Cherpeau, director of learning and skills at the chamber, said: “We currently have more than 40 candidates for those roles but we want to open out the opportunities to as many young people and possible.

“So we are appealing to both young people and their parents to take the opportunity to find out more about these apprenticeships.

To find out more about the apprenticeship vacancies click here

“We want to use the new Apprenticeship Levy as an opportunity next year to make sure that volumes increase and maintain the quality.

“The aim is to create 400 apprentices in the city with 150 at the ages of 16-18-year-olds.

“It is going to take a lot of work, a lot of effort and a lot of co-operation with local employers who we want to invest in young people, giving them a chance to learn and develop on the job and undertake the qualifications

“This is a fantastic opportunity to earn while you learn.”

Mr Cherpeau says there are numerous examples of young people supported by the chamber who are now on the path to successful careers in business.

Wild Thang benefits

Apprenticeships are about much more than just getting young people into jobs – they can have have a transformational effect on a business, as Andrew Dwerryhouse will testify to,

Andrew founded Liverpool-based Wild Thang as a micro business 20 years ago with a £1,500 grant from the Princes Trust.

It started off printing t-shirts and, two decades on, it now manufactures and supplies a full range of branded marketing materials to major clients including Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Wembley Stadium, Liverpool and Everton football clubs, and many more.

The business turns over £2m a year and employs 32 people and, according to Andrew, it is those people that have been key to its success.

For the past decade Wild Thang has partnered up with Liverpool and Sefton Chambers of Commerce to offer apprenticeship opportunities to around 10 young people.

Star turn Stacey

And star apprentice has been Stacey Seary who came into the business 10 years ago as a nervous 17-year-old and, with the help of both the firm and the chamber, has become a highflying executive and a huge asset to the business.

She started off working on reception and performing basic admin duties and has risen to become a senior sales supervisor.

“I think you have to work really hard, show up on time and in the early days I was always proactive and I would ask for things to do,” said Stacey.

“I always wanted to learn and develop and show I was enthusiastic and that is why I am where I am now.”

She added: “I remember going into the sales office for the first time and that was quite nerve-wracking working with the directors and speaking to clients on the phone. 

“The management NVQs I did through the Chamber in the last few years have really helped me grow my confidence.

“The people who helped me were amazing. and every single day I feel like I am learning something new. I am so happy that I came down this route and I wouldn’t change anything.”