AoC Sport partnership with Weston College wins national apprenticeship award

Weston College, AoC Sport’s training provider for the FA Women’s Football Apprenticeship, has won the ‘Promoting Apprenticeship Campaign of the Year’ at the 2021 AAC Apprenticeship Awards. Weston College was commended for its partnership with the FA and AoC Sport, to create and promote the apprentice programme, which aims to increase female participation in football. Ten apprenticeship vacancies went live in August 2020 and thanks to a strong marketing campaign, proved very popular with applicants. AoC Sport received 146 applications for the 10 vacancies by working in collaboration with the employing colleges, County FAs and other football stakeholders, and by using social media and marketing strategies to reach the right target audience. Sarah Nickless, Women’s Football Development Officer, said: “It’s our first year working with a training provider to deliver our FA Women’s Football Apprentice Programme so we’re absolutely delighted that Weston College has won this award. It’s due recognition for a programme going from strength to strength. "Through the promotional campaign, Weston College and AoC Sport maximised the networks and spaces to share the opportunity, ensuring the widest possible audience was reached. These efforts are clearly shown in the number of applicants and quality of apprentices recruited.” Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with this award, as it represents partnership working and the hard work and dedication of our team, in not only creating and delivering apprenticeships, but also raising the awareness of apprenticeships across the UK.” “We have a fantastic relationship with the FA and AoC Sport, and together we have had such great success in getting young females involved in football already – I can’t wait to continue this partnership and support further growth in female football.” The AAC Apprenticeship Awards celebrates apprenticeships across the UK and is supported by FE Week and AELP (Association of Employment and Learning Providers). Weston College were national finalists alongside Carlisle College and Luminate Education Group.