I briefly met with colleagues from the new National Apprenticeship Service today...

There is a real opportunity to look creatively at developing public sector approaches to apprenticeships with the Government aiming for one in five of our young people undertaking apprenticeships within the next ten years. There are alraedy 3500 apprentices working in Leeds based employers with half of these places filled by 14 - 18 year olds. The public sector represents 20% of the workforce but we are only providing 10% of the apprenticeships.

The Government's public sector challenge is for us to deliver 21000 new public sector apprenticeships across the country with 4500 in schools and children's services and 1000 through BSF procurement. We need to identify areas where apprenticehsips could address workforce issues and find creative and imaginative ways of working with apprenticeship providers in areas like horticulture, health and social care and early years and childcare. There are over 180 apprenticeships to choose from in over 80 business sectors, all relating to a particular job. In the public sector, apprenticeships cover the following; health and social care, advice and guidance, community development, community justice, public services, teaching assistants, youth work, customer services, business administration, team leading, management, payroll and personnel.

If you want to find out more visit their website at www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
Chris