Council apprenticeships ahead of the game

Date published: 05 February 2010

With the Government urging council's to up their game and recruit more apprentices to deal with rising unemployment and joblessness, according to information supplied by Rochdale Borough Council, the Council is well ahead of the game.

Communities Secretary John Denham said: “Our snapshot findings shows top councils are creating one apprenticeship for every 65 employees, the average is one per 248 employees." 

Rochdale Brough Council has one apprenticeship per 75 employees, much better than the national average and also significantly better than the North-West average of 1 to 479.

The Government has promised to increase public sector apprenticeships by 21,000 to tackle the number of young people not in education, training or employment — currently one in every 20 — the highest number in a decade.

Mr Denham said if the worst performing councils raised their take up of apprentices to the national average it would create an extra 3,000 more apprenticeships.

Mr Denham added: “We cannot be complacent on the back of a recession, we are backing young Britain and making every effort to help start young careers through apprenticeships.

“Councils should be making use of the Government funding available to help people now — when they need it."