Dudley Council is best regional apprenticeship employer
Dudley Council has been recognised as one of the UK’s top apprenticeship employers, scoring 43rd in a nationwide list.
The local authority is featured in the Top 100 UK Apprenticeship Employers list from The Education and Skills Funding Agency and has been listed as the top local authority.
The national government led rankings celebrate the country’s most outstanding apprenticeship employers from the public and private sector including industries such as engineering, banking, healthcare, retail, local government, accountancy and the charity sector.
Employers are recognised for providing some of the most successful apprenticeship programmes over the previous 12 months, with Dudley Council being the only West Midlands authority to appear on this year’s list.
It’s hoped the list will help potential apprentices, parents and careers advisers to identify the best apprenticeship opportunities with the highest performing apprentice employers.
The council currently has more than 400 apprenticeships and has successfully helped hundreds of people to progress into a career path over the last three years through the Apprenticeship Levy.
The levy, which was introduced to large employers in 2017, has resulted in apprenticeships being offered to a much wider group of people than before. Apprenticeships currently taking place range from customer service to legal executive and from adult care to cyber security.
Apprenticeships currently on offer with the local authority include construction trades, horticulture, vehicle maintenance and LGV drivers. Alternatives to university at higher levels include surveying, civil engineering and teaching degrees are also available.
Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for procurement, transformation and commercialisation, said:
It is a real honour to see Dudley Council scoring so highly on this national listing and I would like to thank everyone involved in making this a success, especially our fantastic apprentices.
As a former apprentice myself, I would encourage people of all ages who may be considering a new path to consider an apprenticeship. They are a great way of accessing exciting careers and through the Apprenticeship Levy we have people attaining up to degree standard qualifications.
We have a wide age range from 16 right through to 60 plus and it feels great to be playing a key role in helping to shape our very own homegrown talent.
Peter Mucklow, Director, Apprenticeships, Education and Skills Funding Agency added:
During such a difficult year it is encouraging to see that apprenticeships continue to be critical to business performance and success.
This announcement shows that there are outstanding employers delivering apprenticeships across all sectors, and the Top 100 apprenticeship employer rankings rightly give recognition and thanks to those who have shown, and continue to show, huge commitment to apprenticeships.
I look forward to seeing how these 100 employers use their status to showcase the many benefits of apprenticeships, whilst encouraging other employers to consider recruiting an apprentice.