Agenda item

The Assistant Chief Executive (Human Resources) submitted an update on apprenticeship activity within the Council highlighting issues surrounding the future of apprenticeships in the current climate.

The Council had been required to complete a return to Government Office indicating the number of apprentices currently employed and the number likely to commence employment in the next 12 months. 

In the last 2 years the Council had employed 34 young people as apprentices, most of whom had been employed on a 1 year contract.  11 of the 34 had gained employment of some sort within the Council, 4 in jobs elsewhere and 12 at present still in an apprenticeship.  The remaining 7 had either failed to complete their apprenticeship or had completed without a job outcome.  2 further apprentices were to be appointed following interview processes.

There were definitive pledges to appoint at least 2 Horticultural apprentices, 4 Programme Led Apprentices in Social Care (these did not count towards employing more paid apprentices as per Government objectives as they were not employees in receipt of a wage), 16 through the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) and a further 10 graduate placements also funded by the CWDC.

The issue of apprenticeships and the Council’s progress in reaching the position referred to above had been reported to the Strategic Leadership Team on a number of occasions.  Backing had been given to seeking to offer more apprenticeships but to date had not set targets or committed funding to make a step change in the numbers employed on an annual basis.

Using John Denham, Communities Secretary’s, benchmark figure, Rotherham was amongst the worst performing Councils for employing apprentices.  Also early benchmark data received from the Government Office for the Yorkshire and Humber showed the Council as potentially the lowest performing Metropolitan Authority in terms of numbers of apprentices projected to be employed as at March, 2010.

If using the benchmark average of 1 apprentice to 248 employees to set a target for each Directorate, the results would be:-

                                                            Apprentice Target      Current Apprentices

                                                            2010/11                   2009/10

Chief Executive                                                1                                  1

Children and Young People                            9                                  2

Environment and Development                       9                                  3

Finance                                                           1                                  0

Neighbourhood and Adult Services                8                                  0

RBT                                                                 3                                  0

Schools*                                                         26*                             6

Whole Council                                                            31(57*)                      12

*It was suggested that the Council could not directly control the actions of schools on this matter though it could seek to influence their engagement in the apprenticeship agenda.

Apprenticeships would be for a period of 12 months.

If the targets were achieved, there would be resource implications for Strategic HR.  It was proposed that discussions take place with the Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services on how it could best be achieved.

However, further information was being sought as to how other authorities were calculating their numbers and what was included and what was excluded.  At present Rotherham did not include 2010 Rotherham Ltd. or school based staff.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the apprenticeships offered to date be noted and the success of apprentices in securing employment be celebrated.

(2)  That the step change to increase the number of apprenticeships offered by the Council be supported.

(3)  That the adoption of the minimum Directorate targets for the numbers of apprentices appointed each year set out within the report be supported.

(4)  That the additional workload pressures and actions to support the above be recognised.

(5)  That an update be submitted on a quarterly basis including all schemes such as Access all Areas, Future Jobs Fund and other Placement Schemes.