Kirklees Council recently received recognition at a national awards ceremony for apprentice employers. The council which supports 92 apprentices was highly commended in the large employer category
The awards took place during National Apprenticeship Week and were run by Apprenticeship4England.
The awards recognise good practice across the country with finalists including both training providers and employers of all sizes. Kirklees were one of only few councils to reach the finalist stage, and attended the awards ceremony alongside some well-known companies and others who are leading the way on apprenticeships such as IBM and Kwik Fit. The awards at the ceremony were presented by former Chelsea footballer Paul Elliot.
Cllr Graham Turner, cabinet member for Resources said: “I would like to congratulate the staff involved in our apprenticeship programme, from those involved in recruiting and supporting apprentices, to the people in service areas who help train these young people to become the best they can be.
“Apprenticeships are an essential part of the Kirklees Council recruitment programme, they ensure that we have access to highly motivated employees with the right skills for our future. I believe that our apprentices are excellent employees and as much as we’d like to keep them all, I acknowledge that some of them will one day take on positions in different companies, where they will go on to play an important part in the wider Kirklees economy.
“Not everybody wants to go to university, and by providing an opportunity to those who wish to learn on the job whilst earning a wage, our high-quality apprenticeships will provide skills that will last a lifetime.”