Gower College Swansea recently welcomed employers from the legal sector to a dedicated breakfast event, focusing on developing the next generation of industry talent through apprenticeships.
The event, which was held at Sketty Hall Business School, home of the College’s accountancy and professional courses, introduced a new fully funded Legal Services apprenticeship pathway, designed to equip learners with the skills, knowledge and real-world experience to become paralegals or legal assistants.
Organisations in attendance including Capital Law, Morgan LaRoche and Dezrezlegal, gained valuable insights into how apprenticeships can fit into existing training strategies to provide a sustainable talent pipeline in the profession, whilst providing a platform to learn more about the support available to employers to help nurture and develop future legal teams.
Darren Fountain, Learning Area Manager for Business and Technology at Gower College Swansea, shared a comprehensive overview of the programme as well as the impact with its first cohort of learners:
"The new Legal Services Apprenticeship pathway at Gower College Swansea offers employers a unique, fully funded opportunity to invest in the future of their legal teams. This event provided a fantastic chance for employers to engage with this alternative route into the legal sector—helping to develop existing talent and recruit new apprentices. "
"This event provided a fantastic chance for employers to engage with alternative routes into the legal sector—helping to develop existing talent and recruit new apprentices, making it a smart and sustainable choice for the profession."
Guest speaker Carly Stevens, HR Manager at JCP Solicitors, shared her organisation’s positive experience in working with the programme and College, highlighting the value in shaping the next generation of legal professionals:
"Legal apprenticeships are vital in enhancing diversity within the legal sector. They open career pathways for individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, particularly those who may face financial or social barriers to traditional education or employment routes. By removing cost-related obstacles and offering structured, supported on-the-job learning, these programmes ensure that personal financial circumstances do not stand in the way of achieving professional goals."
"At JCP Solicitors we are proud to welcome our third cohort of legal apprentices and are committed to supporting them at this early stage and throughout their legal careers."
The event underlined Gower College Swansea’s commitment to supporting the legal sector through tailored, high-quality education and training solutions.
Employers who missed the event and would like to learn more about the new programme can contact training@gcs.ac.uk or 01792 284400.