WorkWise Apprenticeships Podcast gives young people an insight into the reality of apprenticeships

Apprentices are at the forefront of a new podcast that has been launched by a community collaboration to equip young people with skills for future employment.

The WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast has been created through a partnership between Express FM, Mountjoy and City of Portsmouth College to bring students, apprentices and employers together to explore the benefits of apprenticeships.

Students from City of Portsmouth College will be trained in interviewing by Express FM presenter, Paul Marsh, before producing a series of podcasts featuring young employees from across Portsmouth.

The first season featured apprentices from Mountjoy, with conversations covering the transition from education into the workplace, earning while learning, developing confidence and discovering career opportunities.

The first season featured apprentices from Mountjoy, with conversations covering the transition from education into the workplace, earning while learning, developing confidence and discovering career opportunities.

Season two has now begun, expanding the podcast to feature apprentices from Comserv, Airbus and Portsmouth City Council, with the new episodes showcasing opportunities across areas including maintenance and construction, aerospace and local government.

The project comes as the Government targets the creation of 50,000 additional youth apprenticeships by the end of this Parliament, alongside increased support for eligible young people and measures designed to encourage more employers to take on apprentices.

Paul Marsh, who provides the students' interview training, said: "What has pleased me most about this project has been seeing young people who were initially nervous about taking part, asking questions or sharing their experiences, leave with a smile on their face and a real sense of confidence in what they have achieved.

"More importantly, they can be proud of knowing they have helped the next generation make informed and educated decisions about their future and the opportunities apprenticeships can provide."

Rather than simply explaining what an apprenticeship is, WorkWise gives listeners the opportunity to hear directly from apprentices about their own experiences, including how they found their apprenticeship, what they do day-to-day, the skills they are developing and what they wish they had known before starting.

By researching and conducting interviews with people from different industries, they are developing skills in communication, interviewing and working with employers, while helping other young people understand the choices available to them.

David Lycett, assistant principal at City of Portsmouth College, said: "It is a fantastic opportunity for our students to develop real-world communication, interviewing and employability skills.

"At City of Portsmouth College, we are passionate about promoting apprenticeships as a high-quality route into employment and career progression. These podcasts will play an important role in improving understanding of the wide range of apprenticeship pathways available across different sectors, while helping schools, families and the wider community hear real stories from local employers and apprentices."

Express FM Co-Founder and Chair Cheryl Buggy explained how the project is an important opportunity for the station to support both young people and local employers.

"Express exists to serve the people of Portsmouth, so anything we can do to help businesses and the employees of the future succeed is really important to us. It's a very exciting and important project for us," she added.

For more information about the WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast, click here.