Southend Gives Major Boost To Apprenticeships

March 16, 2016 by Southend Borough Council

Southend Gives Major Boost To Apprenticeships

Tuesday 15 March 2016

Apprentices welcome here!

That’s the message from Southend Business Partnership Briefing after local firms between them made an impressive 82 official pledges to take on apprentices.

They took this step at their latest meeting which hosted the Pass the Torch campaign.

This torch, which symbolises passing on skills from one to another, is part of the drive to urge companies to formally agree to hire apprentices.

It ceremonially toured seven destinations across the south of England – including Southend - in the lead up to National Apprenticeship Week, which is now under way.

To build on Southend business community’s growing enthusiasm for taking on apprentices, young people in the borough are also being strongly encouraged to explore this career opportunity.

This week three of the Council’s own apprentices gave a special presentation to year 11 students at Eastwood School about apprenticeship schemes.

Lauren Robinson, Hope Ware-Lane and Daniel Howard spoke with students and showed their promotional video featuring apprentices and managers from different companies describing the benefits of apprenticeships.

This film, which was also shown at Southend Business Partnership Briefing, can be seen here

Council leader, Councillor Ron Woodley said: “It is excellent to see local companies so keenly embracing the apprenticeship scheme, which gives young people the skills and jobs our economy needs, while helping businesses thrive

“I myself have hugely benefited throughout my working life by starting out as an apprentice, so I thoroughly recommend it.

“We would invite other companies who would like take on apprentices but have not yet pledged to do so, to get in touch.”

Interested businesses should contact: Claire.Nicholson-Clinch@acer.ac.uk

Southend firms which – like the Council - have already pledged to take on apprentices, include: Auto Plas International, Holiday Inn Southend, Citizens Advice Bureau, Gleneagles Guesthouse, Copperberg Summits, Enterprise 4 Good (The Hive).