Investing in Futures: YMCA Welcomes a new cohort of Early Years Apprentices to their academy.

Building on the success of its first two years , YMCA Black Country Group is once again opening its doors to a new cohort of nursery apprentices through its dedicated Apprenticeship Academy — an innovative initiative designed to grow talent from within and help tackle the ongoing recruitment crisis in the early years sector.

Following an overwhelming response from over 300 applications, 24 shortlisted candidates are being interviewed over two days, with an anticipated 8-10 new apprentices set to join the organisation early September.

Natasha Brookes, Area Manager for YMCA Black Country Nurseries , praised the quality of this year’s applicants: “We were really impressed with how well our candidates articulated themselves during the application process. The high standard of written applications and interviews reflects the strength and potential within the local education system here in the Black Country.”

Through its Apprenticeship Academy, YMCA is investing in the development of skilled, motivated and committed early years professionals. Apprentices benefit from a clear career pathway, gaining valuable hands-on experience while completing recognised qualifications and receiving tailored training for their roles. This approach supports staff retention and helps ensure the children in YMCA’s nurseries receive the very best care and education.

12 young people from last year’s cohort have been offered full or part-time roles with YMCA. They are now working towards their Level 2 or 3 qualifications. Over the course of their placement, they had the chance to work across all eight nurseries under YMCA’s care. This allowed them to adapt to different teaching styles and personalities, treat each child as an individual, and tailor their approach to meet specific needs.

Helen Brown, Chief Operating Officer for YMCA Black Country Group Early Years, added “Developing our own talent means we’re not only addressing the sector’s recruitment challenges but also giving local people meaningful opportunities to build rewarding careers. By growing our teams from within, we’re embedding our YMCA ethos and values from day one and investing in a stronger, more resilient future for our nurseries and the families we serve.”

YMCA Black Country Group remains committed to creating opportunities for young people to thrive, supporting the early years sector and the wider community by developing the next generation of early years educators.

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