EIGHTEEN-year-old Helen MacPherson had completed the first year of her AS-level studies at Worcester Sixth Form College when she decided the academic route was not the way she wanted to go.

Some of her school friends had gone on to apprenticeships and were doing well so Miss MacPherson, who lives in Perdiswell, Worcester, decided to find out more.

Logging on to the National Apprenticeship Service website, she found an advert for an opportunity at housing and care provider Sanctuary Group in Worcester.

She successfully completed the assessment process and was offered a Sanctuary apprenticeship, starting at the group’s head office in Castle Street in November 2011. Based in the information services team, she is working on her level two diploma in business and administration.

Miss MacPherson said: “I enjoyed information and communication studies at school and it is wonderful being able to continue this interest into my apprenticeship. Everyone at Sanctuary is really friendly and helpful. An apprenticeship was definitely the best way forward for me.”

Miss MacPherson attends workshops through Worcestershire Group Training Association one day a week as part of her training, with the rest of the time spent gaining valuable workplace experience. Her varied duties include maintaining spreadsheets, logging calls and completing reviews.

Another supporter of the Worcester News 100 in 100 apprentices campaign, Croppers unisex hair salon in Stourport-on-Severn, is very satisfied with the apprenticeship programme run through Kidderminster College.

Catherine Wainwright, owner of Croppers, said: “Our current apprentice Claudia Chater has a great attitude to the salon and the clients. It gives myself and my staff satisfaction knowing we have passed on our knowledge to the best of our abilities. Claudia has grown in confidence and continues to go from strength to strength.”

Miss Chater, aged 17 of Kidderminster, is working towards her level two hairdressing apprenticeship.

She said: “I chose the apprenticeship programme because, for me, it’s a better way of learning as I am a hands-on person and I find it a lot easier to learn.”

The Worcester News has teamed up with the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and several key organisations to help find jobs for local youngsters facing record youth unemployment levels. Our 100 in 100 campaign hopes to encourage employers, learning providers and partners to influence the business community to increase the number of apprenticeship vacancies and raise the profile of apprenticeships.

There are many apprenticeships on offer at Kidderminster College. For further information call the college on 01562 826515.