IT HAS been a good week as we highlight all the good news regarding National Apprenticeship Week.

Then we noticed a line in Harlow Council”s proposed budget document.

It referred to a number of “efficiency savings”

Including: £114,000; reduction in apprenticeship vacant posts within establishment”

So we asked the leader of Harlow Council, Councillor Russell Perrin what he thought this meant:

Cllr Perrin said: “We remain committed to supporting new apprenticeships and ensuring that opportunities are created for people to work at the council.

The council has a good track record over many years supporting apprenticeships and trainee schemes and creating roles for those staff to develop successful careers working for the council.

We run several employment schemes, including apprenticeships, to help young people into a career in local government.

Since 2018 the council has employed a total of 14 apprentices. Last year we also employed four people through the Government’s kickstart scheme. 

“There are four non-technical apprentice posts which are currently vacant. Three of these posts have been extremely difficult to recruit for and have been vacant, in some cases, for as long as three years.  

One post is being removed due to the promotion of an existing apprentice who is still with the council.

We value our apprentices, and this shows that there are opportunities for them beyond their apprenticeship term.”

“Three apprentice posts will be recruited to shortly and one post in our legal team is currently being advertised.

Our legal team has also provided work experience placements to undergraduates as part of our work on growing our own talent.  

Three staff in our Revenues and Benefits team have recently completed their apprenticeships and have been promoted into permanent roles.”