Southwark leads the way in London as a Top 100 apprenticeship employer
24 January 2017
Southwark is the only council in London to make the list, announced at the National Apprenticeship Awards last Friday, which includes a wide range of businesses and organisations including the Eden Project, The Co-operative Group, Mercedes Benz and the British Army.
Cllr Johnson Situ, Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Social Regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Southwark, to be considered an equal player against so many big businesses with huge budgets. We know the massive difference apprenticeships can make to people’s lives, giving them the confidence, skills and tools to secure permanent employment, which is why we have made such a strong commitment to developing apprenticeships in Southwark. Both through our own council scheme to employ 100 apprentices each year, and our aim to create 2,000 new apprenticeships in the borough, which we are on course to achieve, our apprentices and staff have shown what is possible when you put your mind to it. I hope our success will inspire other councils and organisations to change lives through apprenticeships.”
The council’s Apprenticeship Scheme contributes to our social and economic development agenda by creating opportunities to grow our own future talent and support people to realise their potential. Specific objectives include directly employing 100 apprentices each year, with apprentices making up 3% of the workforce. The scheme has demonstrated fantastic results with 122 former apprentices still in employment and progressing within the council. A high number are now also in management positions, following our leadership programme and managing apprentices of their own.
In the wider market, Southwark is creating 2,000 new apprenticeships in the borough between 2014 and 2018, with over 600 achieved so far and a further 800 planned this year. It has also developed an Apprenticeship Standard for businesses to adopt or work towards, focusing on high quality, secure apprenticeships that pay the London Living Wage.
Page last updated: 24 January 2017
