In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune... However - if it's not heroes for hire, working as good-guy vigilantes around the US or the world that you're after perhaps we can interest you in our own Apprentices A Team!

As part of our Moving East programme we wanted to create a network group to bring together the growing number of local Apprentices so they could support each other and share common experiences. If you pop into our office at the Thurrock Learning Campus on a Thursday morning you are now likely to come across the three core members of this emerging group.

Jamie Ashwell - who is currently undertaking a two-year apprenticeship at the High House Production Park in Purfleet with the Royal Opera House - is co-ordinating the group. Working towards the EDI Level 3 National Award in Cultural Heritage Venue Operations, Grays based Jamie was also heavily involved in helping shape the recent Christmas Carol Parade at High House.

Will 'Is Everything Cool?' Hatton - is a Community Arts Apprentice at South Essex College as well as being a talented session drummer with a growing reputation. Southend based Will's role is to bring together partnership projects involving the College, and he is currently masterminding our input into National Apprenticeship Week (February 6-10) this year.

Mohammed Rahman - is our Community Arts Apprentice at the National Skills Academy who joined us initially through the Future Jobs Fund - an initiative supporting long-term unemployed young people. Mo is now a key member of the Skills Academy team helping  support our forthcoming Industry Conference in Salford (March 6 & 7) as well as leading on a couple of exciting Moving East programmes that you'll hear more about in due course.

Last autumn Creative & Cultural Skills  published an independent evaluation of the Creative Apprenticeships programme, which investigated the return on investment from the programme that has seen over 900 young people employed since the pathways were first introduced in 2008.

The report provides evidence of the significant economic impact that the apprentices will have on the UK economy.  The latest cohort of 210 apprentices is forecast to deliver a net gain of c£2.4m to the UK economy over the coming decade, with expected net gains of some £16.4m for the next five cohorts of learners.

I love it when a plan comes together!

One of the problems we are aware of is that Apprentices might experience feelings of isolation. If you are the only Apprentice in a businesses it can feel a solitary task. By setting up the network group (even with our own tongue in cheek label of the A Team) we hope to counter any feelings of loneliness, and help give a  structure and valuable feedback to the role. Longer term the A Team could develop into an exciting resource supporting local events, such as was demonstrated by the four White Light Apprentices who did such a great job lighting the Sculpture Launch at High House Production Park last week.

We hope the A Team will grow to cover not only Thurrock and the Thames Gateway area, but the wider East and South East regions. Perhaps it might also mature into a model for other areas of the country too.

So if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the Moving East A-Team.

OK - I can hear you all quoting B.A. Baracus now 

"Shut up, fool".

You can read more of the Creative & Cultural Skills report via  http://bit.ly/xCHVX9 and if you are interested in employing an apprentice, please contact apprenticeships @ccskills.org.uk.