THE WORK done to support apprentices in roles as diverse as Social Work and engineering has seen the council scoop a prestigious award.
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is the first local authority in the country to be given the ‘Investor in Apprenticeships’ award for the support given to almost 400 council apprentices since the internal apprenticeship scheme was started in 2009.
This is in addition to the 850 young people in Redcar and Cleveland helped into apprenticeships with businesses across the borough thanks to the Routes to Employment team
That support has seen 175 council apprentices go on to further education or full-time employment thanks to the invaluable experience gained during their apprenticeships. The 65 apprentices currently at the council will no doubt be looking to follow a similar path in the near future.
Councillor Carl Quartermain, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Leisure, said: “Receiving the ‘Investor in Apprenticeships’ award is testament to the work the council’s officers have been doing for over five years now.
“I commend the fabulous effort of these teams and to our apprentices who can be confident they will receive the best training and support to benefit them in their future careers.
“I am fully committed to continue to provide our young people with these opportunities within Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and I would encourage all businesses, big and small to take up this challenge too and offer the youth in our borough more employment and apprenticeship opportunities.”
Also receiving the award was the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Cllr Brenda Forster. Cllr Forster said: “I was delighted to see the council presented with such an important award recognising the work being done with the borough’s young people. Apprenticeships are a key step towards full-time employment and I am pleased the council is committed to supporting apprenticeships.”
Presenting the award to the council was Anthony Knowles, Head of Employer and Delivery Services at the National Apprenticeship Service, he said: “Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council have earned this recognition by employing apprentices across many different parts of their organisation and by proactively promoting the benefits of apprenticeships in the wider region. In addition, the council also offer traineeship opportunities to further extend the talent they are able to attract.”
Sue Husband, Director of the National Apprenticeship Service, added: “Now is the time for more young people to consider apprenticeships as a route into a successful and rewarding career and for more businesses to get on board and reap the benefits. More employers are seeing the benefits of offering work experience, traineeships and apprenticeships to help give young people the best start in their career.”
To find out more about apprenticeships at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, go to: www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/apprenticeships.