Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week at Fennies

At Fennies, National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity for us to recognise, support and invest in the future of Early Years education. Apprentices play a key role in shaping young minds, and this week is dedicated to their development and career progression. We’ll be taking a look at all the ways we’ve been giving back to our amazing apprentices.

The Fennies Skills Tree: Growing Together

To set a positive and inclusive foundation for the week, we have launched the Fennies Skills Tree. This activity will allow the apprentices to reflect on:

• Aspirations - Their long-term career goals
• Strengths - The skills and qualities they bring to their roles
• Collective Values - How they contribute to the Fennies Family

By mapping these out visually, the apprentices have been encouraged to recognise their progress while setting new goals for personal and professional development.

Personal Development and Goal Setting

Throughout the week, apprentices were encouraged to take an active role in their own development by:

• Identifying a new skill to focus on and improve upon
• Completing a Clifton Strengths Assessment to gain insights into their capabilities
• Discussing career progression with a mentor or supervisor

This provides a structured approach to their growth, ensuring each apprentice feels supported in their professional journey.

We got to speak with Marta, one of our lovely apprentices at Fennies Purley, Christchurch Road and she had this to say! 

‘My favourite thing about this apprenticeship so far has been being able to do my planning really well. Using schemers and different types of theories that I've learned through the course of my apprenticeship. My future goal is to possibly become a room leader at Fennies.’

Apprenticeship Incentives and Support

To reinforce our commitment to our apprentices, we have relaunched the Apprentice Workplace page, making it easier for them to access resources, training materials and career development opportunities.

This initiative ensures apprentices have the tools and recognition they need to thrive at Fennies.

Learning and Collaboration Opportunities

• Launch of Level 5 Apprenticeship - For apprentices looking to take the next step in their careers, we have introduced opportunities for them to progress within Early Years education.
• Lunch & Learn Sessions - A dedicated peer-sharing initiative where apprentices can exchange experiences and best practices.
  
  • Two sessions ran across lunch breaks this week.
  • They were recorded and have been made available on Workplace.

These sessions fostered collaboration and helped the apprentices learn from each other’s experiences.

Engaging with Future Apprentices

Our team visited Oxted School on Thursday 13th February to introduce the students to the apprenticeship opportunities available at Fennies. It was a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of Early Years educators and showcase the benefits of a career in childcare.

Recognising and Celebrating Apprentices

To close out the week, we have:

• Shared statistics on the number of apprentices who have successfully completed their programmes.
• Created a photo montage that captured key moments from our apprenticeship journey.
• Each nursery has sent a thank-you message to their apprentices, celebrating their dedication and achievements.
• Highlighted the accomplishments of each individual apprentice.

We have also encouraged peer recognition, inviting apprentices to acknowledge and appreciate each other’s contributions.

Senior Leadership and Learning & Development Visits

Leaders from across Fennies have visited apprentices throughout the week to:

• Show their appreciation for all their contributions and boost their morale.
• Build stronger relationships and foster a sense of belonging.
• Understand apprentices’ experiences in the workplace.
• Gather feedback to improve the apprenticeship programme.
• Reinforce the importance of apprenticeships within the organisation.
• Provide insight into career pathways within Fennies.
• Strengthen the company culture and commitment to talent development.

These visits have enhanced the engagement levels and offered apprentices a platform to share their experiences. Fennies Eltham were lucky enough to have their local MP, Clive Efford, visit the nursery to have some discussions with the apprentices about their courses.

A Week Focused on Growth and Recognition

Pru, Learning and Development Lead at Fennies, alongside her team have been instrumental in ensuring National Apprenticeship Week went smoothly. They did an amazing job and here’s what she had to say about this hugely successful week!

"I’m incredibly proud of how all our sites have come together during National Apprenticeship Week to show appreciation and thanks to our apprentices. Their dedication, hard work and passion make a real difference, and it’s amazing to see everyone unite in recognising their contributions. This week has been all about celebrating their achievements and the bright futures they are building, and I couldn’t be prouder of the support and encouragement shown across all our teams!"

At Fennies, we believe that apprenticeships are more than just a qualification, they are the foundation for a successful career in Early Years education. National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to celebrate achievements, support development and inspire the future workforce.

Interested in starting an apprenticeship at Fennies? Find out more here! .

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