National Apprenticeship Week returns in 2024

Published: 5 February 2024

This week marks the 17^th National Apprenticeship Week. Apprenticeships are a great way to develop your knowledge and skills while working in the career field you are interested in.  

Derby City Council always aim to support employers recruiting new staff as apprentices. In order to help local businesses, recruit apprentices, Derby City Council is transferring 25% of the apprenticeship levy to employers looking to recruit apprentices or upskill their existing workforce.

Rob Dawes, from Briight, a Derby business that currently has an apprentice as part of the Derby City Council Levy transfer scheme, said:

"At Briight we have long championed the power of apprenticeships. We see firsthand how it creates a future where apprentices like our apprentice, Jess, can develop and shine as outstanding marketing professionals. Five years later, and with the support of Derby City Council and the Apprenticeship Levy transfer scheme, Jess, who is a beacon of apprenticeship success, has returned to apprenticeships to take her skills even further.

Our advice to other businesses: embrace apprenticeships as the cornerstone of a future where continuous learning and dynamic development are not just ideals, but the very pulse of business vitality."

Lee Jepson, found of L.E.A.D. IT services, said:

“A main driving factor of our growth has been down to our commitment to invest into our young people and give them opportunities to thrive within a sector they want to get into. Over the years, over 10 apprentices have been with us and continued into a full time 1^st Line Technician or Field Engineer roles.

We also pride ourselves on encouraging women to get into IT with 45% of our workforce being female it has worked very well. We look forward to employing more apprentices this year and taking them on the journey.”

Sarah Thompson, the Marketing Apprentice for L.E.A.D., said:

“Being an apprentice with L.E.A.D. IT Services is rewarding because the culture of the company involves constant encouragement towards growth from all sides of the team. As a marketing apprentice and someone who gets to move around and interact with all departments, I have found that at every level there is a real sense of community and looking out for each other, not just to become better as an organisation, but to improve and develop personal career skills too.

The resources they are willing to provide, and the freedom given to utilise these, I feel, has inspired self-confidence, which I believe is an important attribute for any company offering apprenticeships to consider. I look forward to completing this apprenticeship and thanks to L.E.A.D. IT Services, I am excited to see I will be able to achieve.”

Councillor John Whitby, Cabinet members for Children’s Social Care, Learning and Skills said:

“Having an apprentice as part of your business can be extremely rewarding for both you and the apprentice. By becoming an apprentice, you can have fantastic career opportunities presented to you all whilst earning essential qualifications. These apprenticeships can also lead straight into a permanent position so you can continue developing your career at the same business you completed your apprenticeship at”.

If your business is interested in signing up to the Derby City Council Levy Transfer Scheme, you can find out more information online. You can also email pratibha.hindocha@derby.gov.uk who will be able to answer any questions you may have about the scheme.

Recently, we held a design competition for students at local schools in Derby who have an eye for design. The winners of the competition have been selected and have won a day working with our design team and they will also have their competition entry displayed around the city in the coming months. We would like to congratulate both winners for their fantastic entries.

If you are interested in an apprenticeship but you aren’t sure where to start, there are three apprenticeship events happening across the city.

• Tuesday 6^th Feb – Buxton & Leek College employers event.
• Wednesday 7^th Feb – University of Derby Schools apprenticeship event.
• Thursday 8^th Feb – The Roundhouse Open Evening (apprenticeship focused event).

Alternatively, if you’d like to find out more about the current vacancies and apprenticeships available in Derby, you can subscribe to the Derby Jobs Weekly newsletter, visit the Derby City Council apprenticeships webpage or you can contact the apprenticeships team directly by calling 01332 643702 or emailing apprenticeships@derby.gov.uk.

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