Apprenticeships

About Generation

Generation runs free training programmes for unemployed adults aged 18+. We prepare, support and place people into life-changing careers by connecting them with hiring employers.

Generation partners with employers to develop role-specific training programs and recruit for them through bootcamps and apprenticeships. In doing this, they create a more diverse talent pool and connect high potential individuals with employers. Consider Generation as a bridge between employers and talent, and one that can equip you with new skills along the way!

The core offer

Generation programmes are always free
1:1 mentor support during & six months post-programme
Employability skills: mock interviews, application support, role plays
Graduates connected with hiring employers after the course
Remote delivery during Covid
Laptop & Wifi provided where required

Key facts

84% of employers say Generation graduates outperform their peers
85% of graduates are employed within three months
97% programme graduation rate
Plans to support 20,000 young people into work in the next five years

AWS re/Start

Duration: 12 weeks
Course content
- IT fundamentals, Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud services
Outcomes
- AWS certification
- Interviews with companies using AWS
- Starting salary £25 – 35k in London
Delivery partners: Prince’s Trust & Amazon Web Services

Find out more & apply

Data Engineering

Duration: 12 weeks
Course content:
- Database fundamentals
- Programming languages (Python/SQL)
- Big Data and Machine Learning intro
Outcomes
- A range of entry level roles
- Junior Data Engineer role at companies we introduce you to
- Starting salary £25 – 35k in London
Delivery partners: Prince’s Trust & Infinity Works
Eligibility 18+

Find out more & apply

Customer Support

Duration: 5 weeks
Course content:
- How to speak to any customer with confidence
- Resolve customer problems over the phone, webchat, or email, using a range of digital tools
Outcomes
- Customer Support Representatives can earn £17 – 23k
- Quick progression to other roles with increased salary e.g. team leader, or HR
- Eligibility 18+

Find out more & apply

Data Analytics

Course Content:

Data quality management: cleaning & processing data, some database querying using SQL
How to manipulate data to create reports that support or inform business decisions
Visualisation: PowerBI & Tableau (dashboards, excel reports etc)

Outcomes:

We connect you with hiring employers to start as a Data Analyst
Starting Salary £23 — £27K

Find out more and apply

Green energy consultant: Junior Retrofit coordinator

Course content:

Understand green sector jobs & responsibilities of a Retrofit Adviser
Learn about cutting edge new technologies e.g. solar, wind and biofuels.
Develop core customer service skills to deliver great consultancy and advice
Become a key player in the UK’s green energy transition, coordinating contractors & technicians, processing grant applications, reviewing surveys and conducting property assessments

Outcomes:

You’re certified to work as a Junior Retrofit Adviser byThe Retrofit Academy
Nail a job interview with one of Generation’s employer partners
Play a vital role in the UK’s green energy transition
Starting salary £20 – 23K

Find out more and apply

Career Support

Generation’s Career Support programme helps you to find clear next steps for progressing your career, and supports you to get there quickly — whether you know what you want to do but are struggling to get a foot in the door, or if you’re still figuring out what type of role could work for you.

Course content

How to discover your strengths with personality testing and career coaching
How to choose the right CV format and display your strengths in a way that stands out from the crowd
How to write a compelling cover letter that focuses on Impact
How to prepare for interview and answer in an effective way to show-case your talent

Outcomes

Fully supported interview process and job applications for you
Complete the course when and where it suits you with remote workshops, 1:1 career coaching and online resources to flex around your schedule.

Find out more and apply

Eligibility

Aged 18+
Not in employment, education or training
You live in a London borough
You have the right to work in the UK

*please check the programme webpage for full course requirements

Generation programmes are made possible with funding from the European Social Fund

Cory Riverside Energy

Cory Riverside Energy (Cory) is one of the UK’s leading resource management, recycling and energy recovery companies, meeting the needs of London’s people and businesses. Cory’s management team is committed to a best-practice apprentice programme and has a strong belief in developing its own talent pipeline to create future leaders of the business. They are now hiring apprentices for mechanical, operations and electrical apprenticeships. Find out more here.

About Cory Riverside Energy

There has never been a more exciting time to work in resource management, recycling, and energy recovery. These sectors are among the fastest growing in the UK, backed by significant investment and technical innovation. Cory employs more than three hundred people to operate, support and manage its services and the facilities that transform waste to power a greener future.

Working at Cory

Steve Taynton, Engineering Manager, shares his experience: “I began my career as an apprentice mechanical technician before joining Cory in 2010. I have since moved through various roles in the company to become Engineering Manager of the Energy from Waste facility in Belvedere. Alongside my current role, and with the company’s support, I am also studying for an Executive MBA through Warwick Business School. Energy from Waste is fascinating: as with any sector, it has its challenges – which I meet daily as an engineer – and opportunities, especially as the country seeks to become a more sustainable, net zero economy.”

Apprenticeship opportunities

There are three different degree level apprenticeships on offer at Cory. Whatever your skills and ambitions, if you bring commitment and energy, you can make a difference at Cory doing work that really matters. Apprentices are the company’s future, so investing in them is a priority. Whether apprentices choose a mechanical or electrical engineering apprenticeship, they are guaranteed a good salary, academic or vocational qualifications and hands-on training.

Deep-dive into a mechanical apprenticeship

Cory offers a four-year apprentice contract. The first four months focus on full-time learning, and the remainder of years one and two are a mix of off-site learning and on-site experience. At the end of the second year, apprentices complete the Level 3 BTEC and start the NVQ Level 3. These studies underpin the knowledge required to get the most out of on the job training and experience. In the third and fourth years, apprentices continue to gain further practical experience and work to achieve their NVQ Level 3 qualification. High-performing apprentices can also progress to spending one day a week at college studying for an HNC in engineering.

Connecting skills and the world of work with PwC

PwC is focused on helping young people develop their skills and access careers, whether at PwC or beyond, irrespective of their background. They have created an online toolkit as a free resource for teachers and careers professionals.

A selection of the e‑learns available are highlighted below:

Financial literacy

Understanding how money works is vital for students as they enter the world of work. The Financial Literacy Skills Curriculum aims to ensure pupils have a broad understanding of essential financial terms, products and services to make informed and effective decisions with their financial resources and secure the foundational knowledge and skills expected in most jobs.

Explore the resources

Recruitment

PwC’s Student Recruitment Team has produced these e‑learns, covering three core aspects of their recruitment process. They develop the understanding and skills that pupils need for applications and online testing, video interviews, and assessment centres. Although developed by PwC, many employers use similar tools, so the content will support students across many application processes.

Read the E‑Learns

Technology and digital skills

From coding to app development and the internet of things, the technology and digital skills e‑learns help students connect technology topics they might be interested in with potential careers in those areas. They will also develop multiple employability skills. Each session is between 45 and 60 minutes long.

About the e‑learn

Careers in the curriculum:

For students who want to find out more about how the subjects they study match the jobs they might do in the future, these postcards from PwC staff are a great way to connect the two. Each one contains examples of how they use the skills they learnt and their advice for someone making those same decisions now.

READ THE POSTCARDS

Makers & Mentors by Mount Anvil, supported by the Mayor of London

In September 2020, Mount Anvil launched the first pillar of its Makers & Mentors initiative – Mentoring. Mount Anvil set up the programme, supported by the Mayor of London, to make the construction and development industry more open and diverse. They strongly believe in equality of opportunity and understand that mentoring helps to level this playing field.

Makers & Mentors from Mount Anvil, supported by Mayor of London

“Good growth demands that we do more than just build homes, we need to cast the net wider, integrate with the community and give the step-up people need to build skills for their future.”

Killian Hurley, Chief Executive Officer, Mount Anvil

Who’s it aimed at?

Everyone. Makers & Mentors is not just for people interested in core construction roles. It’s for those working on sites, in architecture practices, in consultancies, and those hoping to find a way in after finishing university. Find out more here.

Why have Mount Anvil & the GLA taken the lead on this?

Learning and growth is part of Mount Anvil’s DNA – the company wouldn’t be where it is today if its workforce didn’t have a learning mindset or if it didn’t invest in the growth of its people. With that in mind, Mount Anvil set up Makers & Mentors with the Mayor of London to provide a sector-wide platform that supports better but equal opportunities for those wanting a way in and around the development and construction industry.

What’s next from Makers & Mentors?

There are four pillars to Makers & Mentors: Mentoring; Apprenticeships; Work Experience and Learning in Schools. Mount Anvil is working hard on the finishing touches for the other three programmes and can’t wait to share its plans soon — stay tuned!

Accenture: finding work that works for you

Accenture is a global consultancy business focused on innovation and next-generation technology to meet current and future living and working challenges.

Apprenticeship opportunities

Are you interested in earning while you learn? Do you want to explore getting a degree debt-free? Then, Accenture’s apprenticeships could be for you. From project management through to becoming a software engineer, this video gives a taste of what to expect.

Finding your career in tech

If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in tech, then this blog is full of inspiration. Shajida Akhtar completed Accenture’s degree apprenticeship programme and has since worked on large-scale tech projects, building new skills in DevOps and Java programming. Find out more about her experience.

Don’t give up

If at first you don’t succeed… this blog is an excellent exploration of how to take feedback and keep moving towards your dream role. Kurtis Scarratt discusses his path into Accenture and what he focuses on now, from the day job opportunities to getting involved in wider initiatives close to his heart.

Making the switch

Temitope Bakare switched from applying to studying English Literature to a technology degree apprenticeship. She talks about what guided her decision, how she reassured her parents and her focus on becoming an Amazon Web Services practitioner. She has some top tips on keeping your options open.

Accenture partnered with Skills London 2020 to deliver a live training event on skills-based interview techniques. This is now available on demand and can be accessed here.

EY UK’s Business Apprenticeship Programme

EY UK’s Business Apprenticeship Programme offers a paid route into the workforce. Through valuable, on-the-job experience, apprentices get to know clients, their businesses and how they work.

The benefits

Earning a salary from their very first day, apprentices can work towards a professional qualification while learning to solve complex business challenges. Apprentices gain transferable skills, lots of practical experience and a network of mentors, supporting them to do a good job.

What is it like?

Previous EY apprentices have shared their experiences, from first day nerves through to the rapid discovery of what their future career could look like. They’ve shared their stories here. More information on the school leavers programme is available here.

Joining the EY team

Getting to work with clients, taking part in the company’s social activities and engaging with senior staff, apprentices get involved across the business.

The opportunities

From Assurance, Strategy and Transactions, to Tax, there are routes in across the business. Interested students can find out more here. For those interested in level 7 apprenticeships, please visit the new dedicated page here.

Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) Programme

The MCA programme aims to boost the number of skilled workers and opportunities in construction, particularly for women and those from black and ethnic minorities. It supports:

High-quality training and initiatives across the capital to give Londoners the skills needed to enter and progress in construction.
Increased collaboration within the sector, particularly between small and medium-sized businesses and construction skills training providers.
The development of training provision for the construction of more prefabricated housing in London.

There are nine hubs, and you can find more detail on each of them here:

Transport for London

When you think Transport for London (TfL), tubes, trains, trams and buses probably come to mind. However, it is also behind a housing programme aiming to construct more than 10,000 new homes in London. The TfL MCA hub has three construction skills centres across the capital: Brixton in South London and Earl’s Court in West London. It is also working in partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to create a new centre on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London. If students want to find out more about the exciting, ever-changing and rewarding opportunities in construction with TfL, they can register their interest here.

London South East Colleges Hub:

The hub operates across Bromley, Greenwich, Bexley and Lewisham. From the hub, students can access a free Career Coach link that can be used to browse possible career options and build a CV. This free to use tool can be accessed here. There are also a variety of events happening so if you are interested in attending an open day or want to keep an eye on other virtual events then head over to London South East Colleges, Lewisham College or Shooters Hill Sixth Form College.

Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge MCA Hub:

The hub operates across three London Boroughs in East London. Training partners include The Adult College Barking, Barking & Dagenham College, New City College — Havering and The STC Group. All of the London boroughs involved have their own job brokerages which support local residents: Barking & Dagenham Job Shops, and Havering Works. Each of these partners is well placed to support career development, no matter what stage in your career you are at.

ITV apprenticeships on offer at Skills London

London South Bank University MCA Hub:

The hub operates across Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. They have partnered with Naturally Talented Me, an online portal that identifies attributes by answering a few questions about hobbies. Natural qualities are then matched to suitable job roles, helping students discover a career they may not have previously considered. They can give it a go for free here.

London Borough of Newham MCA Hub:

The London Borough of Newham has a very young population. Around 40% is aged 25 and under, so its MCA (delivered through its workplace service) is an excellent source of opportunities. Its network of training and education providers delivers a wide variety of accredited training from entry-level through to level 6 qualifications. It also includes Newham College (an MCA quality mark holder), Building Crafts College, NewVic (Newham 6^th Form College) and the University of East London.

Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College MCA:

The college focuses on making sure its students leave job-ready. The hub has highlighted five reasons why construction could be a good option for future success. One: Be free of debt: earn while you learn with a construction apprenticeship. Two: Pay days: skills command a good salary from a young age. Three: Up, up and away: you can take and use your skills anywhere in the country (or the world!). Four: Build a business: in construction, starting your own business is a real prospect. Five: Leave your mark: what you create and what you make is down to you – it’s your legacy! To find out more, why not sign up to attend a virtual open day? Dates are continuously updated here.

You can get the skills to enter one of the sought-after professions by taking a look at Build Training, Harrow & Uxbridge colleges, MIT Skills, West London College and West Thames College. They all have friendly and helpful staff on hand to help you make the right choice for you.

College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) MCA Hub:

The hub covers Barnet, City of London, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Newham, Islington, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Westminster. CONEL has a range of free full time and short construction-based courses and apprenticeships, with many participants progressing to gain industry-recognised qualifications. The college also provides Women Into Construction courses. Advisors can help students build the perfect CV, application and personal statement to help make their‘employment pack’ stand out from the crowd, whether they are applying for university, an apprenticeship or other employment.

South London and Partners MCA Hub:

The hub operates across the six boroughs: Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth, bringing together construction employers and training organisations to help people learn new skills and get jobs in construction. Partnering with South Thames College Group, Croydon College, Richmond College, the Training and Recruitment Partnership, CALAT and Kingston University, the hub offers a broad range of training courses. These include basic construction skills to help start the journey towards a career in construction, as well as traineeships, apprenticeships and degree courses in construction management and surveying. It also offers other full-time and part-time courses such as plumbing, bricklaying, carpentry and painting and decorating.

Melissa Kose, Emerging Talents Manager, British Airways shares her experience of Skills London:

We spoke to Mel Kose, Emerging Talents Manager at British Airways, who started out as a Skills London attendee, and now returns to the event year after year seeking the best young talent that London has to offer:

“My career journey started at Skills London in 2012, enabling me to explore all my options. The event allowed me to speak to professionals and broaden my horizons, which guided me to apply for an apprenticeship at British Airways. This was a fantastic learning experience, and I encourage anyone considering applying for an apprenticeship to go for it!

I love working with young people, and that’s why my role as Emerging Talent Manager at British Airways is incredibly rewarding, as I get to help the next generation of talent find a future that works for them. Attending Skills London with my team allows us to meet young people at the start of their working life and offer guidance and support. Our goal at Skills London is to change the perception of recruitment and show that a vast number of roles are available outside the usual cabin crew and pilot positions.

Throughout the two-day event, attendees can meet our current cohort of graduates and apprentices; from engineers to head office colleagues, all are available to answer questions and offer insight into their roles.

Skills London has helped create the right environment for young people to ask questions and start thinking about their future. It’s a fantastic one-stop shop for school leavers, graduates, and people who aren’t sure what’s next. The event also gets young people serious about the world of work and gives them the confidence to take charge of their future and aspirations.

I am excited to return to Skills London this year. Anyone attending can expect to meet colleagues from a variety of our teams and learn more about the application process.”

Apprenticeships