Wealden District Council will soon be taking on taking on apprentices when it launches its new scheme in partnership with Sussex Downs College later this year.
The programme will provide six apprentices with the opportunity to learn and develop business administration skills in different parts of the Council.
“Our apprenticeship scheme is designed to give young people from the district a good grounding in the world of work and let them develop a range of transferable skills,” said Councillor Roy Galley, Portfolio holder for Economic Development and Regeneration. “This scheme demonstrates how Wealden is leading the way in our drive to encourage employers across the District to take on an apprentice – they are a proven and efficient way to develop a workforce as well as providing a young person with an opportunity.”
The Council’s Apprenticeship scheme will enable enthusiastic individuals to gain crucial transferable office and administration skills to provide the bedrock for their future careers.
As well as a competitive wage, Wealden Council will be supporting apprentices via an innovative travel allowance to ensure that the scheme is viable for even the most rural of the District’s residents.
Each apprentice will be based within one of the six service areas at Wealden with opportunities to gain experience in several parts of the organisation and work together on cross organisational projects.
SDC Recruit, Sussex Downs College’s Apprenticeship support service, works with a number of companies, successfully matching apprentices with employers.
The scheme has a proven track record in the Eastbourne area and the college is now pleased to be expanding this service. Andrew Morse, Employment Support Services Team Leader at Sussex Downs College said: “The College helps place Apprentices in many business sectors, from accounting to construction.
Our new partnership with Wealden District Council extends our service even further, in terms of the area covered, and the reach of employment opportunities available to apprentices.”
Alex Colbran, Policy Officer at Wealden Council, points out that some useful research by the National Apprenticeship Service shows that 80% of those employers who employ apprentices agree they make their workplace more productive and that in addition 81% of consumers favour using a company which takes on apprentices.
Applications for the scheme will be invited from the early summer and new apprentices should start by early autumn. Advertisements will be placed on the Wealden District Council website and regional and national apprenticeship websites. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Wealden apprentice, you can register your interest at the Sussex Downs Talent Bank to receive notifications of apprenticeship vacancies that match you and your aspirations.
If you are interested in taking on an apprentice at your business please contact
IMAGE CREDIT : WEALDEN DISTRICT COUNCIL
