Swansea Council to open up more apprenticeships and work experience placements than ever

More apprenticeships and work experience placements than ever before could soon be made available at Swansea Council.

The council is working on an innovative new strategy to be launched in coming months that could benefit hundreds of residents in years to come.

The new strategy would build on some of the success stories already in place at the council. These include the beyond bricks and mortar scheme, which ensures work opportunities for local people are part of every major council construction project, as well as the council’s work alongside NEETs – young people not in education, employment or training – which has been recognised nationally as an example of best practice.

It’s being proposed the new strategy is first launched as a pilot initiative to get a better understanding of realistic targets and sources of funding that may be available. The scheme could see 100 apprentice and trainee positions opened up within 12 months of its inception, with a percentage of vacancies currently advertised externally also being re-designated as apprenticeship opportunities.

A single team would be set up to co-ordinate the new strategy, which is likely to be referred to Swansea Council’s Cabinet for consideration by the early summer.

News of the scheme comes as the UK marks National Apprenticeship Week, which runs until Friday March 18.

Cllr Andrea Lewis, Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services, said: “We have a number of hugely successful initiatives in place, including the apprenticeship programme run by our corporate building and property services team, but while this should be applauded, it’s also clear that we can do even better with improved cross-authority working and the sharing of best practice between different departments at the council.

“This new strategy is aimed at tackling these areas for improvement and benefitting as many local people as possible from all backgrounds.”

Some apprenticeship and work experience placements would be specifically targeted at young people, the long-term unemployed and disadvantaged groups. Opportunities would also link into the council’s corporate parenting role for young people leaving its care system.

Cllr Christine Richards, Cabinet Member for Opportunities for Services for Children and Young People, said: “We’re looking at creating more meaningful work experience, apprenticeship and internship opportunities than ever before in a far broader range of council departments.

“These opportunities have the power to transform lives because they improve young people’s job prospects and earning potential by helping them develop new skills and boosting their confidence. We’re still working on the fine detail of the strategy, but we expect a report will be ready for Cabinet’s consideration in coming months.”

The corporate building and property services team is also now on the hunt for 14 new apprentices to start work later this year. Apprenticeship opportunities are available in plumbing, electrical installation, bricklaying, carpentry and plastering.

The four-year apprenticeship programme includes a combination of on-the-job training and vocational learning. It leads to an industry recognised qualification and the chance to work on the council’s public buildings and housing stock.

Cllr Lewis said: “This programme allows the successful candidates to build a career, learn job-specific skills, gain employability skills and earn a salary while they’re learning.

“These positions are hugely important because it’s skilled tradespeople like carpenters, electricians, bricklayers, plumbers and plasterers whose work on public buildings and council houses benefits visitors and many thousands of residents every day.

“Some of this year’s successful candidates may even soon be helping build the city’s first new council houses in a generation.”

The corporate building and property services team has a target of 10% apprentices within its workforce at all times, so the aim is to maintain an average of 40 apprentices across the programme’s four-year lifespan.

Anyone interested has until Wednesday March 23 to visit www.swansea.gov.uk/jobs and submit an application form.

Aptitude and skills tests will then be held before interviews by the end of May. The successful 14 candidates will be informed in the summer in readiness for a September start.