Scientiam launches 100 in 100 Challenge

North West Olympian carries the flame for apprentices.

A North West Olympian today launched the 100 in 100 apprenticeship challenge - a programme which aims to recruit and place 100 North West apprentices in new businesses in 100 days.

Olympic swimmer and former GB Swimming Team Captain Steve Parry has joined forces with North West training provider Scientiam to launch the initiative.

100 in 100 will match 16 to 24-year-old apprentices with a relevant business from all sectors. Scientiam has launched an online 'matching service' which is now available at www.scientiam.co.uk

The online service, which has been launched in time for Valentine's Day, will enableyoung people to register their details, skill and sector in which they would most like to work. Businesses can register their details and the skill sets they are looking for in their workforce. Scientiam will use its team of expert advisors, marketing and administration staff to match up apprentices with the right business.

Steve Parry has demonstrated his commitment to the scheme by recruiting an apprentice - the first of the 100 apprentices on the scheme - to work within his Bury based company Total Swimming.

Steve launched Total Swimming in 2006, delivering swimming courses and fun events to children and communities in a bid to address social and health across affected people across the North West and the UK.

He said of the 100 in 100 campaign. "This is a great initiative and as a y oung, dynamic and fast paced organisation, an apprentice is a perfect match for us. Our new apprentice will be a key part of the Total Swimming team and will help to deliver first class customer service to all our partners and clients. I am personally all for apprenticeships as they offer young people the chance to cut their teeth in a job and learn the skills to set them up for a successful career.

"Our whole company is based on the idea of providing young people with a life skill and our values are about learning and innovation, so it makes perfect sense for us to take on an apprentice. Hopefully this will be the start of a long relationship with Scientiam and as we grow we will be able to offer more apprenticeships."

The lucky apprentice, 21-year-old Rebeccah Mushing from Chadderton near Oldham, has been appointed as a Customer Service Representative at Total Swimming and will be studying for a Level 2 Customer Service Apprenticeship with Scientiam. She will manage all enquiries relating to Total Swimming, handle customer enquiries and assist in enrolling customers.

Rebeccah, who previously ran her own business as a nail technician, said "I am very excited about this opportunity and everyone has already made me feel very welcome. I applied for this role as I wanted to do something that would really challenge me.

"I also wanted to work more as part of a team - I have been used to working along and am really looking forward to getting involved with a fast paced and busy organisation. Total Swimming will be relying on me to drive their customer service and make everything as efficient and welcoming as possible for our customers."

Holly Tonge, Operations Manager for Employability at Scientiam, said: "The benefits of taking on an apprentice are huge and it is essential that businesses understand the advantages.  Apprenticeships make good business sense. The employer only pays an apprentice's salary - whilst the government pays the cost of training.

"Apprenticeship schemes are an excellent way to harvest fresh staff who have been trained to meet the individual needs of a particular business. They reduce skills shortages, minimise staff turnover and increase productivity. Your staff work as a they learn and crucially, financial assistance is available."

Steve added: "Youth unemployement is a real problem in the UK, but I truly believe that people can choose their own attitude. We want to be proactive and positive in addressing the issue. I am delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to Rebeccah - she is bright, positive and eager to learn and is a great ambassador for apprenticeships."

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