Highest ever number of council apprentices take up new roles

New cohort starting with the council

Last week saw 28 new apprentices start with the council in the biggest ever annual intake of mostly local residents.

This new cohort sees 20 new teaching assistant apprentices join to take-up roles in Spotland, Heap Bridge, Caldershaw, Bowlee Park, Boarshaw, St Edward’s and Woodland primary schools as well as Redwood special school.

Three new apprentices are joining the council’s adult care team and there are also apprentices starting in youth justice participation, business rates, digital marketing, parks project management and ICT operations.

Fabli Syeda, who is starting an apprenticeship in ICT operations business admin, said: “I am looking forward to a new start and excited to start my apprenticeship. It’s nice to join with so many others, there’s a nice buzz and everyone at the council has been so welcoming. I know how well people do on the council’s apprenticeship programme and I’m really looking forward to the many opportunities coming my way.” 

The new apprentices are joining a very successful and highly-acclaimed apprenticeship programme that the council runs, which over the last five years has recruited to 200 roles.

The council is one of the top 100 apprentice employers in the country, alongside large national employers like HMRC, The British Army, Sainsbury’s and M&S.

Councillor Elsie Wraighte, deputy cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “We are really proud of our successful apprenticeship programme and it’s always great to see more and more people take up roles with us. An apprenticeship is a really great entry into a variety of careers and gives people a real chance to earn and learn. Seeing so many new recruits into our schools is wonderful, it’s a great opportunity for them and will help boost our future teaching workforce.”

Demonstrating a clear commitment to the future workforce, the council now has 70 apprentices currently working in its various departments or in schools. Almost 80 per cent of the latest recruits live in the borough, while 82 per cent attended a school in the borough. Almost half of are aged over 18, with 22 percent being aged over 25, showing the career opportunities open to all.

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for economy and communications, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer more opportunities as we move into our Covid-19 recovery phase. Almost 90 per cent of our past apprentices have gone on to secure permanent positions within the council, another employer, or moved into further education and that’s a figure we’re really proud of. It’s a very challenging time for the economy and the jobs market but we’re delighted to be able to offer these opportunities, futureproof the workforce and boost the local economy.”

Recruitment to the council’s apprenticeships programme for the January 2022 cohort opens on Monday 27 September.