Founded in 2018, Apprentify Group is a training provider based in Macclesfield.
Companies under the group include Apprentify, Netcom Training, Upskilla and recently acquired The Juice Academy, a digital marketing apprenticeship provider originally established by Tangerine Communications.
Jonathan Fitchew joined the group as executive chairman in February 2022 before becoming group CEO in September 2022.
Here, he shares what a recent week in his life looks like…
Monday
As head of Apprentify, I’m used to a fast pace of work; last-minute schedule changes following early morning phone calls are nothing out of the ordinary. However, I wasn’t expecting to be raised from my slumber by a call at 2am from the reception desk of Rylands Farm. Amid much singing and merry making I deduced that the wedding party wanted to er…party into the wee small hours in the hotel lobby. I managed to coax them back to their rooms and grab a fitful couple of hours sleep before the start of the working week.
After what seemed like five minutes sleep, the alarm rings early and I’m up and get ready for my GP appointment for some blood tests. I have been lucky to enjoy good health, but I never take it for granted, so a regular check-in to ensure that everything is how it should be, helps provide peace of mind. I head off to our Alderley Park office, grabbing a quick coffee from Glasshouse Coffee Shop en route.
Our week begins with the board members’ meeting. It is time for us all to catch up and discuss last week’s highlights and the objectives for the month ahead. It’s summer so we are all working flexibly, updating those who have been on annual leave to make sure everyone is kept in the loop. Today, we have two new trainers joining the company and as part of their onboarding process, we will be having an introductory team meeting. Although our head office is based in the North of England, our trainers are from all over the UK and will often have to travel far and wide to join us at Alderley Park, so it’s important for them to know they are part of a team and to meet their new colleagues.
Tuesday
The acquisition process can be a long and busy time for everyone, so my wife and I planned a little trip to London to celebrate once it was over and today’s the day. We start in Soho for lunch and then take the rest of the day to meander through London, with the occasional break for wine. Soon enough, the day’s over. Culture and time spent with family was exactly what was needed, giving me a boost of energy for the rest of the week.
Wednesday
Supporting future talent is at the core of the Apprentify Group. One of our bootcamp providers, Netcom Training, is hosting a meeting today to discuss the support they need as we embark upon assisting 1000 learners in their role. These meetings are a time for us to discuss the perspective of both the learner and the employer. Apprenticeships only fit a certain percentage of people and some struggle to find a sponsor, so the bootcamps provide opportunities for communities who are often overlooked.
Thursday
This year we have seen the biggest increase in demand for IT-related courses from apprentices and our partners. With the rapid pace of change we have witnessed over the past few years, we anticipate this demand will continue to grow, which is why we’re excited to launch our first ICT apprenticeship course. It will offer apprentices opportunities to gain more general knowledge, which can then be applied to any role.
Today I have a catch up with my business development team to find out what questions are being asked by our partners. We will then make any bespoke adjustments to the relevant course to ensure that the partner and apprentice are getting the knowledge best suited for their employer. As the course is new, we usually spend a few hours working together to make sure it is fit for purpose. After all that time inside, it is nice to head out for some fresh air, so I nip home, pick up my two dogs and head out to the Edge to catch the sunset and take a deep breath.
Friday
I start Friday with our weekly Directors’ meeting for Apprentify Group where we review the overall success of the courses and the feedback we receive from our partners and councils. A lot of our funding is from the Adult Education Budget (AEB) so it’s essential that the allocation is spent correctly. We take this time to evaluate the success of the allocated funds and discuss any future partnership opportunities.
I’m bookending the week back at Rylands Farm where I am in the process of organising a charity event in memory of my old business partner and friend for over 30 years, Andy Sawer who we sadly lost in 2021. The black-tie event, which is themed: “Havana in the Cabana”, will take place on the 21st October and aims to raise £25,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity. I bought “the Farm” with Andy during our time Pareto Law as a space to host graduates during their training courses. It seems fitting to organise the event at a place that holds so many great memories. Getting a bit emotional now, and I can just hear Andy telling me to wind the diary up before I lose the plot.
