Training provider Hawk Training has partnered with The Midcounties Co-operative to provide childcare and apprenticeship opportunities in a new nursery located in the organisation’s head office.

Located in The Midcounties Co-operative Headquarters at Co-operative House in Warwick Technology Park, the new Your Co-op Little Pioneers Nursery and pre-school has space for up to 68 children aged three months to five years. It will provide on-site childcare to colleagues, as well as a resource for surrounding businesses and the local community. The nursery is located in what was previously office space.

Outstanding-rated Hawk Training has worked with The Midcounties Co-operative since 2015 to develop more than 300 colleagues through apprenticeships. Both organisations plan to enrol another 45 learners in 2024 across a range of levels including the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner and Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeships.

Hawk Training has also partnered with The Skills Network to deliver an early years Skills Bootcamp. Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible online courses of up to 14 weeks for learners aged 19 and over living in England, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track career progression.  

Hawk’s managing director, Crawford Knott said: “It was fantastic to see first-hand the new nursery at The Midcounties Co-operative HQ. Effective employer partnerships like this really are key to the success of any apprenticeship programme. As an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ provider, we are delighted to build on our successful relationship with The Midcounties Co-operative to provide early years care and apprenticeships of the highest quality.”

Bethany Patrick, head of educational excellence at Your Co-op Childcare said: “Opening the Warwick nursery has been a pivotal moment for our childcare business. We hope the successful transformation of existing space within our head office into a pioneering workplace nursery will set the standard for future workplace partnerships.”