The weeklong national celebrations showcase and highlight apprentices in colleges and the college staff and local businesses that support them.

As the lead provider of apprenticeships in Greater Manchester, the College work with over 1,500 employers and more than 2,000 apprentices in a range of sectors, from health and social care to hospitality and catering, bricklaying to business and many more.

The College employs a number of apprentices across many departments including finance, human resources and catering.These apprentices account for 3.6% of the College’s workforce, which is higher than the 2.3% national benchmark for public sector employers.

Alison Macduff is a Level 3 Laboratory Technician apprentice and is combining working at both the Parsons Walk Centre and Leigh College with her HND Applied Biology studies. She has found the benefits of being an apprentice and can relate her work to her course and gain better understanding all round, preparing her for a future career in the industry.

Alison said: “I’m getting new skills while learning and gaining a qualification. It’s great to get paid at the same time.

"I get to make the practical experiments for the HND class through the work I do as a lab technician which gives me an understanding of the science behind the experiment.

The government has placed apprenticeships at the heart of the skills system in the UK, making sure that apprentices develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to thrive in their chosen career.

Vice Principal for Corporate Services, Louise Brown said: “We value the contribution our apprentices make to the College and support their progression.It’s great to see them develop their talent and become integral to the departments they work in.”