News from Merton Chamber of Commerce and Capital Training Group

For Immediate Release, 7 October 2014

Webinar launch for London’s Apprenticeship Staff Support Programme

The partnership steering the London Apprenticeship Staff Support Programmeused a recent AELP UK webinar to showcasethe resources it is developing to helpproviderstrain their staff and boost the number of Apprenticeships in the capital.

Over 100 delegatesincluding FE colleges and Apprenticeshipproviderstook part in theinteractivewebinarhosted by Paul Warner Director of Employment and Skills at AELP UK( 7 October). The webinar, entitled ‘Developing staff to achieve the best outcome for learners’,introduced the Apprenticeship Staff Support Programme overall and looked in more detail at two projects.Guest speakers were Alison Sumpter, Aspire Learning and Development/SETA and Diana Sterck, Chief Executive of Merton Chamber of Commerce.

Diana Sterck is the driving force behind Merton’s‘Take One’campaign that has created over 150 new Apprenticeship places through brokering a partnership between businesses, training providers and young people.She said,“We were delighted to be part of this successful AELPUKwebinar which was a key part of the dissemination strategy for the Apprenticeship Staff Support Programmeas a whole. This was a great opportunity to get feedback on the on-line toolkit we are developingfor providers. This October we arealsohosting four free workshops for London providers in which we willshare best practice andtake providers through the toolkit and the expert support we are offering.”

The London ASSP workshops take place on:

14/10/14 at South Thames College, Merton

15/10/14 at WestminsterKingswayCollege

21/10/14 at Barking and DagenhamCollege

22/10/14 at LondonMetropolitanUniversity

For more information and registration visit:

Capital Training Group Ltd in partnership with Merton Chamber of Commerce were awarded a contract to disseminate good practice and develop a staff training toolkit to help training providers within the Further Education sector to engage with employers and increase the number of Apprenticeships offered by London’s small and medium sized businesses.

The Apprenticeship Staff Support Programme (ASSP) project is managed by the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) which is commissioned and funded by the Education and Training Foundation.

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Editors’ Notes

1. About Capital Training Group

Capital Training Group (CTG) ( is a private training company based in Wimbledon and Wales delivering funded training on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). The company has successfully delivered post 16 education and employability skills for over three years achieving considerable success for local employers and their staff. The company not only delivers Apprenticeships but also employs four Apprentices across its group of companies.

Website: Twitter: @CTGWimbledon

2. About Merton Chamber of Commerce

Merton Chamber of Commerce is a limited company and non-profit making organisation which was set up in 1992. Its overall objective is to protect and develop the interests of the business community based in the London Borough of Merton, South London.

Merton Chamber of Commerce is also a business support agency and has a customer base of around 4000 businesses. Services include a business Helpdesk, business development workshops, one to one business advice, a Go Green service, help in raising finance as well as in the recruitment and support of young people.

Website Twitter: @MertonChamber

3. About the Association of Employment and Learning Providers

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) is the leading trade association for vocational learning and employment providers in Britain. The majority of its 660+ members are independent private, not-for-profit and voluntary sector training and employment services organisations. Membership is open to any provider committed to

quality provision and it includes over 30 FE colleges involved in work based learning. AELP Members deliver 70% of England’s Apprenticeships, and are also at the forefront of traineeship and Study Programme delivery. Website: Twitter: @AELPUK

4. About The Education and Training Foundation

Set up to improve professionalism and standards in the further education and skills sectors, The Education and Training Foundation sets professional standards and provides support to ensure learners benefit from a well-qualified, effective and up-to-date professional workforce supported by good leadership, management and governance.

Website: Twitter @E_T_Foundation

5. About the Apprenticeship Staff Support Programme (ASSP)

The Apprenticeship Staff Support Programme was commissioned to 'Develop staff to achieve the best outcomes for learners'. The Education and Training Foundation made £717k of funding available as part of Phase 1 for the design and delivery of innovative and high quality professional development support, resources and materials which can be

accessed by, and will benefit, the wider education and training workforce in order to improve outcomes from Apprenticeship programmes for learners and employers. The programme is managed by AELP, along with programme partners AoC, HOLEX, 157 Group, NIACE, and the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Website: and

Twitter: @AELPUK