National Apprenticeship Week
City Council recommends businesses follow their lead
(Date of issue: Tuesday, 7 February 2012)
In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week (6-10 February),
Carlisle City Council is urging local businesses follow their lead
by giving employment opportunities to local apprentices.
The City Council set up an Apprenticeship programme last summer
and currently has two apprentices working for the council. Plans
are also in place to expand the scheme to include more
opportunities for local job seekers in the future.
The Carlisle City Council Apprenticeship programme was approved
by the council’s Employment Panel in July 2011 with the aim of
offering high quality jobs with qualifications for local
people.
Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson, said:
“The aim of our apprenticeship programme is to tackle skills
shortages by ‘growing our own’. We’d urge other local employers to
consider setting up their own schemes. Around 2,000 young people
leave Cumbria every year to find better education and employment
opportunities. Apprenticeships can play a key role in providing
opportunities which could encourage them to stay.”
The Business Administration Apprentices started working for the
City Council in autumn last year. In addition to ‘on the job’
experience, they are also supported by Carlisle College as part of
their apprenticeship training.
To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week and as part of
their learning and development, they will be getting to know about
Carlisle and the services the City Council provides.
They will be spending the day with the Leader of the City
Council’s Labour Group, Cllr Joe Hendry this Thursday and will be
visiting local schools, community buildings and other key sites in
the Yewdale ward. They will also be spending the afternoon with
Cllr Marilyn Bowman, Portfolio holder for Economic Development, on
Friday. They’ll be looking at the regeneration proposals currently
out for consultation, including the Botchergate Conservation Area
Appraisal and Management Plan and the city centre Business
Improvement District.
Cllr Joe Hendry, Leader of the Labour Group and Yewdale ward
councillor, said:
“I recognise that we live in pretty grim times as far as the
economy and unemployment is concerned and that margins are
extremely tight in the private sector. Nevertheless for the long
term future of Carlisle it is vital that our youngsters can find
worthwhile employment. Opportunities such as apprenticeships can
give Carlisle youngsters skills for life. It is also an important
investment in the Carlisle economy. We need longer term planning
for Carlisle’s skills base in the twenty first century. It would be
a good boost for our youngsters if many of them could gain an
apprenticeship. It would be good for businesses and good for
Carlisle.
“I’ve said so often that a good education and a decent job are
the finest gift we can give our youngsters. If local firms can go
the extra mile on providing apprenticeships it would be a great
investment in Carlisle’s future.”
Cllr Marilyn Bowman, Portfolio holder for Economic Development,
said:
“Young people are the future of our city and I’m delighted to be
spending time with our apprentices during National Apprenticeship
week. Apprenticeships provide much needed opportunities for local
job seekers. In addition to the two Business Administration
Apprentices, we’re also working alongside Carlisle College and the
National Apprenticeship Service to look at other areas of City
Council work where apprenticeships could be introduced.”