National Apprenticeship Week
Celebrating the impact of apprentices on individuals, employers and the community
“Skills for life”
We are proud to support National Apprenticeship Week, the 17th annual week long celebration of apprentices.
The theme this year is “Skills for Life” reflecting on how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career and help businesses to develop a talented workforce that is equipped with skills for the future.
Through the Close Brothers SME Apprentice Programme, our ASPIRE and Graduate programmes, and our internships with 10,000 Interns Foundation and UpReach, we are giving individuals the opportunity to realise their potential, bring innovation and develop the skills needed to kick start their careers.
Thinking about taking on an apprentice?
Here are some tips for taking on an apprentice
Supporting SMEs by helping fund new apprentices
Since 2015 Close Brothers has been supporting apprenticeships through its SME Apprentice Programme. The programme contributes to the funding of new apprentices in the manufacturing and transport sectors in and around the Midlands, helping local SMEs to secure the skills they need for the future.
Click here to find out more and meet some of our apprentices
The power of apprenticeship support
UK’s SMEs believe apprentices are solution to UK’s skills gap crisis
Former apprentice celebrates scheme that started his career
Thinking about taking on an apprentice?
Here are 5 reasons why it could be beneficial to your business
Supporting ethnic diversity and social mobility
Our work with UpReach and 10,000 Black Interns Foundation demonstrates our commitment to supporting ethnic diversity and social mobility in the workplace. Last summer 36 students took part in our internship programmes. These internships continue to have a positive impact on broadening our talent pool for entry-level roles, with interns applying for and successfully securing permanent roles within Close Brothers.
Meet Simi Uddin, an UpReach intern
Meet Risquat Bello, part of our 10,000 Black Interns cohort Summer 2023
Providing opportunity
Our successful ASPIRE school leaver programme continues to run annually and provides those individuals not going to university with an opportunity to gain experience of different business lines on a rotation basis alongside being supported through training via the apprenticeship levy.
Find out more about our ASPIRE school leave programme
Our Graduate programme offers the opportunity to gain an in depth knowledge of the teams specific to a chosen career path, while gaining exposure across our Banking and Asset Management divisions.
