Celebrating apprentices during NAS week

Monday marks the beginning of National Apprentice Week and Plymouth City Council has scheduled a week packed with activities to celebrate the benefits of apprenticeships.

From visiting local schools, opening an apprenticeship pop up shop, to partnering with Citybus and 1000 club, who have put a battle bus on the Piazza, the council’s apprentices are on a mission.

Now in its 9th Year, NAS week which is coordinated by the national apprenticeship service, is celebrating apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

Deputy Leader Clouncillor Peter Smith said “As an employer Plymouth City Council are dedicated to providing our apprentices with the tools that they need to go on and have successful careers.

Like businesses all over the city, we have some talented individuals enrolled on our apprenticeship scheme, and we are delighted to be able to offer them the opportunity to earn while they learn.

Now we are joining forces with those businesses to celebrate the achievements of our rising stars, encourage more people to consider it as a career option and promote the opportunity to local business, who can benefit from the many talented young people that we have here in Plymouth.”

The council also have a team of apprentices entered into this years’ Brathay Challenge, the national search for the apprentice team of the year. One of the team members, Jakes Holmes is always more than happy to talk about why he joined the scheme.

Jake Holmes a council business administration apprentice, who is now working in the transport team, found out about apprentices while at Eggbuckland Community College.

Jake said “I found out about council apprenticeships through the careers team at school. I had approached them when I realised that school wasn’t for me anymore, and they mentioned that the council employ a lot of apprentices in the area I was looking at. I then approached Ken (PCC Senior Apprentice co-ordinator), who directed me to the college, and I haven’t looked back”.

Last year Jake was Plymouth City Council’s apprentice of the year, after running a schools programme to promote apprentices to other young people.

“I did talks in school to over 20 different groups, ranging from small classes to assemblies of over 200 people. In total I spoke to over 3000 people about apprenticeships. I also spoke to approximately 50 business people. I love sharing my experiences as an apprentice and how it has helped to mature me.”

Jake now hopes to complete his level 3 apprenticeship and secure a permanent job with the council.

The programme of activities Plymouth City Council has put together is packed with advice and inspiration. The council are encouraging anyone who wants to know more to come along, speak to their apprentices and their mentors and find out what it really means to be involved with apprenticeships:

The Plymouth Manufacturers Group Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair
At Plymouth Guildhall in the City Centre on Saturday 7th March,

Information Event for businesses
Held by PCC and the 1000 Club and supported by PCCI and CCP for businesses at the Construction School at lunchtime on City College Plymouth on 12th March.
To book go to http://www.1000club.co.uk/apprenticeships.aspx

Guildhall Advice Hub
10-2 there will also be advisers and employers available all week in an advice hub in The Guildhall.
Plymouth City Council currently employs over 100 apprentices on schemes such as Business Administration, marketing, project management, horticulture, youth services, sports development and more.

Anyone interested in apprenticeship opportunities at Plymouth City Council should visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/jobs or email apprenticeships@plymouth.gov.uk.

Businesses in the city can show their support and commitment by pledging to employ an apprentice in the future. The pledgometer can be found by clicking on the National Apprenticeship Week banner at www.apprenticeships.org.uk.