PR apprentices begin lessons as McDonald's Nick Hindle praises scheme

Forty-eight apprentices placed in companies around the country by Pearson in Practice and the PRCA have this week entered the classroom-based teaching element of their apprenticeships, which runs alongside their practical workplace experience.

McDonald's vice-president of comms Nick Hindle spoke to mark the UK-wide induction of students earlier this week.

Hindle told PRWeek: ‘I think there are many people out there with talent and qualities to add to our industry that have not been given the opportunity to enter the industry. I think the apprenticeships programme is a clear signal that we want to be more accessible and we’re very supportive of it.’

The apprentices will be taught 14 modules on a day release basis, and will gain a level four qualification at the end of 12-18 months, the equivalent to the first year of a degree.

Grayling, The Red Consultancy and Virgo Health are among the agencies to have taken on apprentices from the £1.2m Government-funded scheme.

Anne Martin, Pearson curriculum manager PR, said: ‘They are having the most amazing experience. Some of them have been with their employers for a couple of weeks and they have been talking to journalists and organising events, they’ve been treated like employees.’

This article was first published on prweek.com