Leeds City Council earns recognition as one of the UK’s top apprenticeship employers, offering diverse training paths from GCSE to master’s level qualifications. By prioritizing a skilled workforce, living wages, and addressing skills shortages, the council supports career development and economic growth, securing a spot at number 90 on the Department for Education’s list.
What makes Leeds City Council one of the UK’s top apprenticeship employers?
Leeds City Council has earned a position among the UK’s top apprenticeship employers for its comprehensive apprenticeship programs, offering qualifications from GCSE to master’s level. By fostering a skilled workforce, paying living wages, and addressing skills shortages, the council supports career development and economic growth, evidenced by their ranking of 90 on the Department for Education’s list.
Recognition by the Department for Education
Leeds City Council has recently been acknowledged for its outstanding commitment to apprenticeships, securing a position on the Department for Education’s (DfE) top 100 apprenticeship employers list. This index is a testament to the exemplary efforts and initiatives taken by the council to foster a skilled workforce through apprenticeship opportunities. Significantly, this is the first time since before the pandemic that Leeds City Council has entered the rankings, where it proudly stands at number 90, surpassing all other local councils except for one, which ranks at 97th.
The qualifications offered by Leeds City Council through its apprenticeships span from level 2, comparable to GCSEs, to level 7, which equates to a master’s level degree. In the year leading up to 31 March 2024, Leeds City Council has seen a surge in apprenticeship uptake with 316 new starts across various sectors, including:
- Social care
- Child care
- Housing
- Digital services
- Project management
- Building trades
- Civil engineering
Such diversity in training paths underscores the council’s commitment to building a comprehensive skill set within its community.
Furthermore, Leeds City Council prides itself on being a living wage employer, ensuring that all apprentices receive a fair wage that meets or exceeds the minimum rate recommended by the Living Wage Foundation. This policy underlines the council’s resolve to support not only career development but also financial stability for its apprentices.
Impact on Local Economy and Skills Development
The DfE’s recognition of Leeds City Council is more than an accolade; it’s a reflection of the council’s dedication to nurturing talent and combating local skills shortages. By offering apprenticeships in areas with a dearth of skilled professionals, the council plays an integral role in bolstering the local economy and addressing vital needs within the workforce. The council’s initiatives extend beyond its own apprenticeship programs, as it also aids other organizations in establishing apprenticeships, particularly where skills shortages are acute. This is achieved through:
- Transfer of levy funds
- Support from the Leeds Apprenticeship Hub
The rigorous evaluation process for the top 100 list involved the analysis of data from over a thousand employers, assessing factors such as apprenticeship starts, completion rates, and diversity within apprentice cohorts.
Councillor Debra Coupar, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Resources at Leeds City Council, commented on the achievement, saying:
“We are delighted to be recognised by the DfE as one of the top 100 apprenticeship employers in the UK. This is a testament to our commitment to providing high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds in Leeds.”
She also emphasized the importance of apprenticeships in developing the workforce and supporting the economy, acknowledging the significant contributions made by apprentices to the council and the city.
Success Stories and Career Advancement
The success of Leeds City Council’s apprenticeship program is best illustrated through the achievements of its participants. One such success story is Jak Lomas, who, after his A-levels, joined the council as an apprentice and climbed the ranks to become a senior civil engineer in highways and transportation. Lomas pursued a BSc in Civil Engineering at Leeds Beckett University while gaining practical experience with the council’s civil engineering team. His hybrid educational journey led to a permanent senior engineering position upon graduation.
Lomas shared his appreciation for the apprenticeship pathway, stating:
“I knew university wasn’t for me, so the apprenticeship route was the ideal way to pursue my chosen career. Completing my degree with the added bonus of five years’ work experience (and no student debt) gave me a great head start.”
Hannah Wood, Principal Civil Engineer in Highways and Transportation and an apprentice coordinator, highlighted how apprenticeships have been instrumental in building careers within the council. Wood pointed out:
“Our team exemplifies how apprenticeships build careers, with many colleagues right up to senior management team having taken this route.”
Apprentices are not only provided with support and responsibility but are also valued for their unique contributions, which bring innovation and vitality to their teams.
Wood spoke highly of the recognition received by the council for its apprenticeship programs, affirming the support provided for career advancement within the organisation.
The council’s achievement and the stories of individuals like Jak Lomas exemplify how apprenticeships can be a powerful tool for personal and professional development, benefiting the workforce and the broader community.
ENDS
- Leeds City Council has secured a spot as one of the UK’s top apprenticeship employers, offering qualifications from GCSE to master’s level.
- The council pays living wages, addresses skills shortages, and supports career development, earning the 90th spot on the Department for Education’s list.
- Leeds City Council saw 316 new apprenticeship starts in various sectors like social care, digital services, and project management in the year leading up to March 31, 2024.
- The council is a living wage employer, ensuring fair wages for apprentices to support career development and financial stability.
- The DfE’s recognition of Leeds City Council reflects the council’s dedication to nurturing talent, combating skills shortages, and boosting the local economy through apprenticeship opportunities.