Agenda item

To provide an overview of the Apprenticeships Project highlighting successes, challenges and developments

The Audit and Governance Committee is invited to consider the information

·         To accept the report

·         To request an update on the Joint Apprenticeships work with local companies and contractors when it has been developed

Submitted - a report providing an overview of the Apprenticeships Project highlighting successes, challenges and future developments. The Members were reminded that the Cabinet (22/01/19) had committed £300,000 from the Council Plan Fund to establish the Apprenticeships Scheme to employ up to 20 new apprentices in 2019. It was reported that the plan had now been included as a priority field in the 2018 - 2023 Council Plan and the scope of the Apprenticeships Plan project had been expanded and renamed as Workforce Planning.

Since the start of the plan in 2019, 30 had been recruited with 10 of the 2019/20 apprentices having been offered a post with the Council. It was reiterated that it was intended to advertise another seven posts by the end of the year bringing the total to 37. At a meeting of the Cabinet in May 2021, an application for an additional £600,000 over three years was approved with the aim of offering at least 20 apprenticeships a year during the funding period. This would enable providing the necessary support and administration for the scheme along with developing the plan to work more with small businesses, local contractors and social enterprises.

The members thanked the officer for the report

During the ensuing discussion, the following observations were made by members:

·         The department was congratulated on the work and for driving this successful scheme forwards.

·         That the field was exciting with interesting future developments,

·         A request for information highlighting those who had left to work in other organisations - this also demonstrated the scheme's value.

  In response to a question regarding how the scheme ensured that new apprentices felt part of the team/department due to the requirement to work from home, it was noted that the individuals received intense support on a weekly basis from the Learning and Development Team along with support from Managers within the relevant departments to ensure that the apprentice did not feel side-lined. 

  In response to a comment that there was a staffing crisis in professional fields in two of the Council’s departments and that apprenticeship schemes had not been included for those departments, it was noted that training schemes and professional qualifications were not available for all apprenticeship fields, but the Cynllun Rheolwyr ac Arbenigwyr Yfory addressed the legal and property fields. It was reiterated that discussions were continuing on 'filling the gaps' in these fields in future.

  Responding to a question regarding methods for information sharing and the recruitment process, it was noted that a large proportion of the advertising work was done through social media, Careers Wales, Schools and Colleges. It was reiterated that details of individuals who had expressed an interest were kept on a register of approximately 500 names - they would receive information as opportunities arose.

  In response to an observation regarding the shortage of carers and if it was possible to attract carers through the apprenticeships scheme, it was noted that a high number had expressed an interest in the care field.  It was reiterated that the appointments process was achieved jointly between the central team and the service managers.

  In response to an observation regarding developing apprenticeships jointly with private companies, there was a need to secure a firm foundation for the in-house scheme first before developing work placements outside the Council. Nevertheless, it was stated that preliminary work was being done to establish joint apprenticeships and that it would be possible to provide updates on this aspect as it developed.

RESOLVED

·         To accept the report

·         To request an update of the Joint Apprenticeships, work with local companies and contractors when it has been developed.