Issue - meetings

Included in this agenda is a report which informs the committee about the delivery of apprenticeships in Wiltshire and seek comments on the Wiltshire Apprenticeship Action Plan.

A key objective of the Council’s new business plan is to grow the skills of the local workforce to attract and retain high value businesses in Wiltshire.  A specific goal of the business plan is to provide ‘more apprentices and improve access to further and higher education’.

The Committee is asked to provide comments on the Wiltshire Apprenticeship Action Plan.

The committee received a report on Wiltshire Council’s apprenticeship growth plan.

Apprenticeship growth was noted to be a key priority both nationally and locally. The Government had committed to deliver three million apprenticeships by 2020. A specific goal of the business plan is to provide ‘more apprentices and improve access to further and higher education’. Wiltshire has a target of supporting the delivery of 31,500 apprenticeship starts for the academic years 2014 to 2020.

Promotion of apprenticeships is performed through the website “Work Wiltshire”. With all apprenticeships pulled together under the one website. It was noted by the committee that this website needs better promotion.

The committee queried the range of apprenticeships currently on offer. It was explained this was relatively small, but there was a drive to offer a wider range.

Potential to receive future information on the council’s work to meet their government apprenticeship growth requirement was discussed. It was requested that this includes information on care leavers and focused on meeting the requirements as a whole.

Resolved

To note the update on the Wiltshire Apprenticeship Action Plan

To receive the Wiltshire Council Apprenticeship Strategy at a meeting of Children’s Select in early 2018.