Employers supported to recruit more apprentices

Cheshire East Council is helping employers across the borough to promote apprenticeships.

The council’s arms-length Skills and Growth Company has published a new directory to promote businesses’ apprentice schemes – to help boost opportunities for school leavers.

The first edition of the apprenticeship directory features 23 employers across the borough, ranging from multi-nationals AstraZeneca, Barclays and Siemens to smaller businesses, such as Thrive Creative and RedEye.

The council’s own apprentice scheme and its sport and leisure provider Everybody are also included.

The directory was launched at Bentley Motors (which also features), highlighting its renowned apprentice scheme, which recruits more than 40 people each year.

The directory will be available to more than 10,000 young people aged 16 to 18 and to every school and college, to help students make informed decisions about their careers, alongside options for university or other employment.

The apprenticeship directory can be downloaded at: www.skillsandgrowth.co.uk/education-skills/apprenticeships/

Councillor George Hayes, chairman of the Skills and Growth Company, said: “Apprenticeships are a real alternative to university and offer a wide range of levels as well as provide long-term employment opportunities to ‘earn while you learn’.

“We are grateful for the support of the employers featured and their commitment to develop innovative and high-quality apprentice schemes – and we hope to include more employers in future editions.”

Julia Teale, skills development manager at Bentley Motors, said: “Apprentices have been a key part of our workforce for generations and we continue to adapt and evolve our scheme to ensure we can train and retain our future workforce – combining traditional skills alongside cutting-edge technology and commercially-focused roles.

Councillor Jos Saunders, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “The government has set a challenge of increasing the number of apprentices employed and we are delighted to support this initiative.

“This apprenticeship directory will help ensure more of our young people can take advantage of the wide range of options available across the borough.”

There are more than 3,000 apprentices employed across Cheshire East – a higher proportion of the workforce than both the regional and national averages. The most popular roles are in business administration, engineering, ICT and health and social care.

Around 90 per cent of apprentices stay in full-time work after their apprenticeship ends.

Employers who wish to be featured in future editions of the apprenticeship directory can contact the Skills and Growth Company at: info@skillsandgrowth.co.uk