Published Wednesday 5 October 2022 at 17:53
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s latest group of apprentices are one month into their journey, with the ‘Class of 2022’ being the eleventh cohort since the successful apprenticeship programme launched in 2011.
With over 25 new apprentices welcomed across the breadth of the Council, its diverse range of opportunities offers new recruits a lot of exciting prospects.
Over 800 services run daily across the authority, with the apprenticeships including business support, finance, and HR to trades such as electricians, joiners, and plumbing.
Brayden Hartley, 16, who began his apprenticeship in the Communications Team, reflected on his first month at the Council –
‘Everybody is really supportive and it feels good that I’m accomplishing something different every day. You get given a variety of tasks and responsibilities in this role which is a big change from school and I really enjoy it.’
That responsibility is one that many of those recruited onto the programme thrive on, with 85% of our Apprentices going on to secure further employment with the Council.
This scope for progression is epitomised by Jack Smith, who is now the Team Leader of Bereavement Services. In January 2021, he began an apprenticeship in that very team, and when a vacancy for a leadership role became available he took the opportunity and succeeded. Below is an interview with the Chief Executive of the Council, Denise Park, where he discusses balancing this new role alongside his apprenticeship qualification.
Chief Executive Denise Park, who is a huge advocate for the Council’s Apprentice Programme said –
‘Apprenticeships add real value to our teams, bring fresh ideas and new ways of working. It is a fantastic way to attain a recognised qualification and embark on a pathway to skilled employment and a very successful career.’
And Apprenticeships are seen more and more as a viable alternative to college and university. Harley Yates, 17, who also started in the last month, this time in the Human Resources section of the Council, said –
‘I did a year in college studying Health and Social Care but it wasn’t for me, so I applied for this Apprenticeship programme. I’m glad I took the step to do something different because I’m enjoying being in this team and it’s such a change to what I’d gone to college for originally.’
Whether they are a school leaver or looking for a change in career, it is clear that the Apprenticeships encourage and attract people who want to make a difference to the residents of the borough, which they are proud to serve.