Wiltshire Council supports National Apprenticeship Week

The theme for 2021 is Build the Future and employers are being asked to share how they have used apprenticeships to train, retrain and achieve as a business.

Wiltshire Council employs around 300 apprentices and is working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council and the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership to showcase the range of apprenticeship opportunities across the county. We are encouraging employers of all sizes and sectors to consider apprenticeships for their business.

Funding for apprenticeships and additional incentives were announced in July 2020 by the Chancellor in the Plan for Jobs (opens new window).

During the week, and beyond, we will be sharing local and national information to support and develop understanding of apprenticeships and where to source additional help.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Wiltshire Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said, "Whilst there is significant economic change taking place, and we cannot ignore the impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on employment and training opportunities, we want to share that the county remains resilient. Employers are finding innovative ways to be able to trade and recruitment in sectors such as health and social care, e-sales and logistics have rocketed. We are also seeing a change in apprenticeship vacancies, recruiting periods and methods.

"We want to inspire young people and their parents to consider apprenticeships as an equal pathway to further education, university and the new T-Levels, and work alongside the Swindon and Wiltshire Careers Hub to achieve this. Their Career Explorer (opens new window) tool is great if you are trying to decide which career is right for you or thinking about changing career".

In June of 2020, Young Work Wiltshire (opens new window) was launched to directly support those 16 and 17 year olds who have been displaced from the education and employment landscape. It offers one-to-one help and advice, in addition to the publication of a weekly vacancy bulletin highlighting all the roles and apprenticeships available across Wiltshire and surrounding areas.

This offer has recently been extended following the launch of the Wiltshire Youth Hub on 21 January, a partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions and local providers, supporting those aged 16 to 24 years to access support and sustainable outcomes.

The council's Employment and Skills Service, works to support those young people that need the greatest support in our communities including those who are not in education, employment and training, those who have experienced being in the care of the local authority to those who face multiple barriers that make accessing the employment market that bit harder. To learn more and view real life experiences visit their Work Wiltshire (opens new window) website.