Facilities management provider OCS plans to offer apprenticeship pathways across each of its service lines to nurture future talent and support career progression.
The company has committed to increasing its number of apprenticeship placements in the UK and Ireland to over 1,000 within the next 12 months. This initiative aligns with its growth ambitions and includes substantial investments in its funded learning programme.
With the recent announcement of its vision to optimise people and places as part of its brand strategy, this move underscores OCS’s dedication to social mobility and impact. It aims to drive social value initiatives, such as apprenticeship schemes and funded learning, to enhance sustainable employment by offering empowering careers and embracing diversity.
OCS reports a 140 per cent increase in the uptake of its apprenticeships over the past year and aims to maintain this growth by providing opportunities in each of its service lines: facilities management, security, pest control, cleaning, catering and hospitality, and hard services.
Ipswich-based OCS currently offers 12 professional pathways and 39 programmes to support its business units. In addition to service lines, these opportunities include management and leadership, coaching and mentoring, and customer service and sales. By focusing on investing in the development and upskilling of its internal colleagues, these pathways and programmes are available to both employees and external candidates.
Apprenticeship pathways will be available at entry level (level 2) and for management (level 3), and OCS is currently revising its higher apprenticeship pathway (level 4) in collaboration with the Institute for Apprentices and Technical Education.
Toni Marie-Vaughan, Head of Social Mobility at OCS UK and Ireland, commented: “While it’s important that we continue to open up more opportunities for people looking to develop, our priority will always remain on the quality of programmes delivered. We are working with a number of partners to achieve this.
“Additionally, we have invested further in our online training modules, delivered through the OCS Academy. Learners can access a variety of programmes in addition to the structured training around their chosen pathway. Along with e-learning and on-the-job training, learners can expect regular line management meetings and coaching conversations, dedicated study time away from practical training, and progress reports.”
Daniel Dickson, Chief Executive Officer at OCS UK and Ireland, said: “It’s exciting that we operate in an industry that can provide opportunities for further development within many different career paths. Our apprenticeship scheme and funded learning pathways are accessible to everyone, regardless of age, gender, background, level of education, or experience.”
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