Cheshire East Council supports National Apprenticeship week

Cheshire East Council is highlighting apprenticeship opportunities across the borough as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

National Apprenticeship week takes place this week and Cheshire East Council, along with its arm-length Skills and Growth Company, is urging those considering their futures to think about an apprenticeship.

The council is using case studies of current apprentices to highlight the range of options, high-quality training and exciting career options available. These case studies will feature on social media throughout the week.

One of the apprentice case studies highlighted is that of Ella, from Middlewich. Ella joined the council in April 2018 as a unit co-ordinator on the fostering team and was awarded the title of Cheshire East Council Apprentice of the Year 2018.

Ella said: “I chose to apply for an apprenticeship after starting my A-levels and realising they weren’t for me. I liked the idea of studying for a qualification whilst getting hands-on experience at the same time.”

The work supports the national ‘Fire it up’ apprenticeship campaign and aims to fire the imagination of over 17,000 young people aged 15 to 19 in Cheshire East (school leaver population for 2019).

There are currently 117 apprentices working within Cheshire East Council, these contribute to the 3,000 employed in the borough. 21.4 percent of these are on a higher level course (level 4 upwards).

The most popular roles are in business administration, engineering, ICT and health and social care. Around 90 percent of apprentices stay in full-time work after their apprenticeship ends.

An apprentice will:

● Work alongside experienced staff;

● Gain job-specific skills;

● Earn a wage and get holiday pay, and 

● Be given time for study related to their role (the equivalent of one day a week).

The council’s arms length Skills and Growth company has produced a directory that features the council’s own apprenticeship scheme and its sport and leisure provider, Everybody, as well as 22 other employers across the borough. This directory can be downloaded on the Skills and Growth website at www.skillsandgrowth.co.uk/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’.

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 and National Apprenticeship Week.

“In particular we would like to challenge employers to provide apprenticeship opportunities for some of our cared for children and those with special educational needs.

“An apprenticeship is a way to really set yourself up for the future with 70 percent staying with their current employer. The apprenticeship directory will help ensure more of our young people can take advantage of the wide range of options available with Cheshire East Council and across the borough.”

For news and information on apprenticeships follow the council’s Facebook and Twitter page at facebook.com/CheshireEastCouncil  and twitter.com/CheshireEast