NVQs develop employees' practical skills in the workplace and provide a reliable measure of vocational competence against industry standards. The majority of the training takes place at work and usually involves day release at Swindon College to supplement practical skills learnt in the workplace. Modern Apprenticeship training is also designed to improve apprentices' competence in specific Key Skill areas, which can include essential areas of business functioning such as communication, number application, IT, problem solving, working with others and learning and performance self-improvement. Swindon College has a team of Training Co-ordinators who specialise in Modern Apprenticeship provision across the widest range of business functions, trades and vocational areas. The Training Co-ordinators support and guide both employers and apprentices throughout the training process and work to ensure that individual training packages meet company needs.
Specialist support is available for employees with disabilities.
Experience has shown that employers who develop their young staff through Modern Apprenticeship training programmes at Swindon College benefit from a motivated and enthusiastic workforce which has increased levels of transferable skills and improved staff retention.