Kirstin:  Interesting article on apprenticeships and the value of them.  Each morning I am served at my local Starbucks by one of my under-graduate students, and I know how hard barrista’s work.  The skills they develop within these roles are amazing, and are what help explain to future employers their experience as brand ambassadors, along with excellent sales, customer service and team-oriented working backgrounds.  It is roles like these that support my students with their search for summer internships and 12 month business related placements, as their applications are in abundance with supporting evidence, and they have amazing work-related stories to discuss at an interview, plus they prove themselves to be very versatile in their demonstration of skills at assessment centres.   

http://www2.askgrapevine.com/news/hr/article/2013-03-14-starbucks-why-vocational-learning-matters/?utm_source=Sign-Up.to&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7962-290449-HR+Man+News+-+18%2F03%2F2013