Building Greater Exeter is focussed on supporting the construction sector across Exeter, East Devon and Teignbridge to address the skills and recruitment challenges it faces. We have a number of resources to help inspire the future workforce and to connect people to jobs and training opportunities in construction and the built environment.

Apprenticeships are a highly valued entry route into construction, they are open to anyone aged 16 and over and go from Intermediate Level 2 to Degree Level 6 and 7. They offer a chance to work on-the-job with experienced staff, and combine practical and academic learning. As a construction apprentice, you’ll be employed full time. You’ll avoid student debt and earn a wage whilst gaining industry-specific qualifications. There are 100’s of diverse, rewarding construction apprenticeships to choose from. You could be behind a drawing board, developing project management skills, training as a crafts-person and more.

SWAAN provides support and advice to employers to ensure apprenticeships are delivered to a high standard. SWAAN provides employers with the opportunity to learn from each other and share ideas.

The Devon and Cornwall Training Providers Network Ltd (DCTPN), is a not-for-profit organisation which covers Devon and Cornwall, providing a voice for the training provider sector, as well as giving practical support and partnership opportunities for members. DCTPN enjoys a diverse membership, with 50+ members, and includes, three universities, six colleges of further education, and a wide range of independent training providers and national stakeholders.

Passionate about life long learning and education, DCTPN Managing Director Sharron Robbie, was awarded an MBE for her services to Apprenticeships & Skills. She is a committed Apprentice Champion and works tirelessly to promote and raise awareness of Apprenticeship opportunities. She has recently taken up an additional post as Apprenticeship Lead for Devon County Council, is a member of the Heart of the South West Skills Advisory Panel, Chairs the DCC Skills Task & Finish Group, and sits on the HOTSWLEP Digital Skills Panel. Through these roles, she ensures that Apprenticeships are very much part of any planned, future developments across the region.

Exeter City Council is committed to supporting skills development across the residents and workforce of Exeter. ​

We recognise the value of apprenticeships to businesses across the city, developing and retaining talent, opening up opportunities and promoting continuous learning and development. We are proud to be an ambassador and consider apprenticeships to be a vital tool in enabling people at all levels and ages to access employment opportunities continue education and learning. The network is invaluable in supporting us all to spread the message about Apprenticeships and keep up to date with developments and best practice.

As a Talent and Learning consultancy, we regularly draft and implement workforce plans across a range of organisations and love to sing the praises of apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships can be the first step for a young person into a long-term career, enable an existing staff member to embrace lifelong learning, or aid employers by supporting recruitment into hard-to-fill roles.

With experience as both an apprenticeship employer and provider, I am incredibly proud to be an Apprenticeship Ambassador and strive to promote apprenticeships as a way of widening access to careers and enabling staff, whether new or experienced, to reach their full potential.

PMG is a network of manufacturers from Plymouth and the surrounding area. The group’s members share good practice to improve each other’s performance, solve common issues and support the development of the industry across the region.

Through its website initiative PlymouthMakes.co.uk, the PMG has created a resource to help young people discover the area’s manufacturers and the products they make, striving to build awareness of manufacturing careers and inspire tomorrow’s engineers. The site also shows career journeys of local employees and highlights the benefits of apprenticeships. In addition, the PMG holds an apprenticeship jobs fair each year and connects employers with schools to support teachers in making STEM subjects relatable to students’ future careers.

Being part of SWAAN enables the group to keep up to date on the latest apprenticeships information, events and apprentice stories to help enrich the group’s aims to promote the manufacturing sector to young people.