Recruitment company approved to deliver Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships

The group’s training arm, Bamboo Training and Apprenticeships, will now deliver Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships in Early Years and Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.

As part of reforms to the apprenticeships system from May 2017, the majority of training organisations are now only eligible to deliver apprenticeship training if they are on the register.

Bamboo Resourcing received its registration on 31 January 2018 and will offer the following CACHE-accredited courses:

• Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid
• Level 2 Certificate in an Introduction to Early Years Education and Care
• Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator)
• Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
• Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce

Directors Eleanor Patel and Hayley Knowles set up the company in 2009, with Bamboo Childcare, the company’s permanent recruitment division, representing the core of the business.

Ms Patel said, ‘We have always been really passionate about the sector, and wanted to encourage people in to it. In recent years there has been a crisis in numbers of qualified practitioners, which in turn causes major issues for nurseries recruiting, and we got a bit stuck on what we could do to help. We were visiting schools and colleges but as recruiters we could only place people who already had the qualifications. Now we can help them directly. It’s really exciting as we can finally do what we want to, which is work with young people, help them in to the sector, and hopefully also contribute to helping the crisis.’

Bamboo Resourcing employs one training manager and one assessor, and aims to recruit 60 apprentices over the next six months.

The company will initially offer training exclusively in the north west of England, as its staff aim to visit all learners in person to sign them up and support them during their apprenticeship.

Ms Patel added, ‘We find that especially for young apprentices, the paperwork can be daunting as there is a lot to do. If you are just emailing or phoning people that can be where you lose them, whereas if you meet with them from day one you can quickly identify whether there are any gaps.’

The company also offers support with functional skills for its apprentices, and provides a range of short courses for all nursery practitioners and childminders, including:

• Ofsted-regulated paediatric first aid 
• Emergency first aid at work
• Safeguarding
• Working with babies
• Fundamental British values in early years practice
• Behaviour management
• Fire marshall training
• Schematic play