A dedicated career path, specialist mentoring, work experience and free qualified training, all whilst being paid; some of the reasons Corin Atkinson, an 18-year-old Totton College student, opted for an apprenticeship at Dodd Group.
Following an interview process in 2015, Corin was selected as the Advanced Business Administration Apprentice at Dodd Group, an nationwide electrical and mechanical services company. Having excelled in the role, a clear career path is now being shaped for Corin, according to Matt Clarke, the Regional Manager, who says:
“We’ve been hugely impressed with Corin’s attitude, analytical skills and logical approach; the types of qualities we look for in our staff. In return for his enthusiasm and dedication, we’ve carved out a programme of learning, specialist mentoring and industry qualified training to set Corin on a very rewarding career path.”
With a number of Directors and Managers at Dodd Group, including Matt, having emerged through apprenticeship routes, the company is a proud advocate of the scheme delivered at Totton College. Matt added:
“With apprenticeships, it’s a win-win situation. The company invests time and energy in developing talent while also creating a role to fit the business model. The apprentice gains specialist skills, industry knowledge and invaluable hands-on experience making them extremely employable. From a wider social perspective, young people achieve a skilled profession without incurring massive debts associated with university.”
Totton College is a centre of excellence for vocational education. With a government target of 3 million apprenticeships across the UK by 2020 in a range of sectors, providing qualifications from GCSE level through to degree equivalents, a significant shift from traditional academic study routes to vocational alternatives are becoming more and more attractive to employers and students.
