Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation on the Apprenticeship Scheme

The Committee received a presentation on the Council’s Apprenticeship Scheme - the ‘A’ Team, from Ben Whitter, Senior Organisational Development Officer, and apprentice Amy Rowe.

The Apprenticeship Scheme provided people aged 16+ with work based training and development experiences across a wide range of council services.  Since the scheme had begun in 2010 it had given more than 80 young people the opportunity to work in various council services. There were currently 65 young people in placements across the Council.    The Council was developed partnership working with the Princes Trust, Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service, Wulvern Housing, Total People and YMCA. The Scheme had just launched apprenticeships in the Leisure industry with 21 places being available.

The ‘A’ Team had recently attended an event at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium to share its success and best practice model with other councils in the north.

Apprentice Amy Rowe explained that she had joined the Council as an apprentice in May 2011. She had completed her A-levels at school but had not wanted to go to university and was looking for an alternative when she found about the Apprenticeship Scheme.  She was currently working in Marketing in the Communications Team and also worked on the A Team marketing.  She was working towards her NVQ Level 3 and attended Macclesfield College one day a week.

The Committee thanked Ben and Amy for their presentation and congratulated them on the work that had been done to establish the scheme and make it successful.  The Trade Union representatives echoed this and asked if there was anything they could do to help and support the scheme.