Rochdale Training attend the GTA conference

Rochdale Training Centre

Rochdale Training attended the Group Training Associations (GTA) annual conference aimed at meeting the Government's targets on training and skills and celebrating the successes of apprentices across the country.

The conference is said to be particularly timely, with significant change in the world of vocational education with English and maths, traineeships and apprenticeships all forming part of the Governmental strategy for economic growth.

The conference took place at the headquarters of the IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers) in Westminster, London. Dinner took place in the Elizabethan style Library, which has views over St. James Park.

The event was opened by GTA England Vice Chairman Steve Gray, who is also CEO of the largest Group Training Association in the country, Training 2000. The theme of this year’s conference was “Meeting the Challenge of Change Together” and speakers were drawn from educational institutions such as EAL, Ofsted, BIS and the Engineering Skills Service.

Mark Maudsley, CEO of GTA England said: “Ofsted’s Report; Apprenticeships: Developing Skills for Future Prosperity, highlighted that Group Training Associations provide a very successful model for collaboration with employers. The report also recognises that GTA England's members have high quality training programmes above sector norms.

“GTAs, being governed by the employers they serve, aim to ensure that these relationships are deepened in order to help continue to respond to the workforce development needs of the 24,000 employers in the network.”

The evening culminated in an awards ceremony which shined a spotlight on exceptional apprentices drawn from every region, all hoping to be crowned ‘Apprentice of the Year’ 2015.

The Minister of State for Skills, Nick Boles, was in attendance to announce the winner and present each apprentice with a Certificate of Commendation.

Mr Boles said of the awards: “The GTA England awards ceremony highlights the talent, energy and skill apprentices bring to businesses both large and small across the country.

“Apprenticeships play a vital role in building a modern, highly skilled workforce. This is why we are working with organisations like GTA England and its members to deliver three million apprenticeships by 2020.”

Jill Nagy, Chief Executive, Rochdale Training said: “Rochdale Training is a Group Training Association, which means it is a Training Organisation brought about by employers to meet the development needs of their businesses.

"We are delighted to be part of the Group Training Association England and that Ofsted has recognised the high quality of our training.

"We are also very pleased that our Advanced Apprentice, Ruby Uddin, from Rochdale Borough Council, is a finalist in the GTA England Apprentice Awards 2015.”