If you’re looking to expand your team and take your business to the next level, there’s no better way to do so than investing in an Animal Care Apprentice! With the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices being just £3.50 per hour, it really is an affordable way to take on new staff whilst providing valuable experience and a training opportunity for someone keen to start working with animals.
What’s in it for me?
Cut your recruitment costs!
Boosting your team with an apprentice is a great way to bypass the added recruitment costs associated with outsourcing or recruiting skilled labour. You can fill your skills gaps by investing in the long term development of an apprentice, growing your own motivated, talented and loyal employee. What’s more – you can save even more on recruitment costs when you take on an apprentice with The College of Animal Welfare. As part of the recruitment process, we can advertise, filter applications for you and even arrange your interviews if you wish – all for FREE! Take a look at the recruitment process
No need to attend College!
As our apprenticeship programmes are work-based, you will not lose your apprentice to college time, all their learning will be done in the work place with support from a Work-based Learning Assessor who will visit your apprentice on a regular basis, and provide telephone and email support between visits. What’s more… Apprentices no longer have to be full-time employees and can undertake an apprenticeship part-time!
Gain an extra pair of hands for less!
Employers who take on an apprentice aged between 16-18 years of age will also receive a £1,000 incentive towards training fees; with further reductions available for organisations with less than 50 contracted employees. And, with the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices standing at £3.50 (November 2017), you can develop an apprentice for much less than it would cost to recruit for qualified labour.
Grow an employee who meets your business needs!
Whilst the majority of students undertake the Animal Care and Welfare pathway of our animal care qualifications, there are other pathways available such as Animal Training and Pet Care and Retail; allowing you to tailor your apprentice to specific business objectives and needs.
Benefit from specialist training with a reputable provider!
The College of Animal Welfare is one of the UKs leading providers of veterinary nurse and animal care training, running from four centres across the UK. We are very proud of the fact that all of our staff delivering our animal care courses have significant industry experience and knowledge under their belts; they all share a common passion for pushing the profession forward. Your apprentice will learn all the skills and knowledge needed to drive your business forward and become the best animal carers they can be.
Discover the benefits that apprenticeship training can bring to your business
Don’t just take it from us – hear what our employers have to say about the impact an animal care apprentice has had on their business…
Claire Brass joined the Darlington Retired Greyhound Trust (RGT) as a volunteer before becoming an apprentice, working her way up Head of Retired Section during her studies. Her line manager, Janet, said of Claire:
“Claire works to the best of her capabilities and is amazing within her role. Her strongest points are working with people…from the volunteers she supervises to the potential adopters who visit for information she makes everyone welcome and goes out of her way to help the adoption process. We have regular Duke of Edinburgh students and adults with special needs who Claire works closely with, very keen to spread the importance of animals as therapy.
“When not working at the kennels, Claire has driven hounds all over to their new homes, not put off by distance she has been as far as the Isle of Skye which required an overnight stay to ensure four hounds had the safety of a kennel. Claire has helped organise many fundraisers and embraced them all even though many include early mornings which are not her strong point! To begin with she had no knowledge of holding a fundraiser but can now confidently contact businesses as needed for preparation.”
What will my apprentice learn?
Our City & Guilds Animal Care Apprenticeship programmes run within a 90 mile radius of our Huntingdon, Leeds and Potters Bar centres. They will equip apprentices with the practical skills and knowledge needed across key animal care skills. Examples of units include:
- Implement, monitor and evaluate plans for the health and welfare of animals
- Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security of the workplace
- Plan the handling and restraint of animals
- Plan, supervise and control the movement of animals
- Plan diets and feeding regimes for animals
- Monitor and evaluate the feeding of animals
- Plan the accommodation of animals
- Monitor and evaluate the accommodation of animals
- Load and unload animals for transportation
- Establish animals in a new environment
Not looking to recruit new staff? Train your current staff!
If you would like to train an existing member of staff, your employee will need to select the programme they are interested in and apply online. If you would like to speak to a member of our team directly regarding our animal care apprenticeship training, please contact us at admin@caw.ac.uk or on 01480 422060.