Agenda item

The Committee considered a verbal report (Agenda Item 5) which provided Members with an update on the progress that was being made with the employment of apprentices. Robert O’ Reilly explained that he would provide Members with a written report on this issue at the next meeting as a number of new issues had recently been raised with him.

Officers explained that the apprentice scheme had been launched after the scheme was agreed at the 11 December 2011 Personnel Committee meeting. It had been agreed that apprentices could be employed at the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices (£2.68 per hour). Members at both Management Board and Personnel Committee meetings had raised concern that this was set at too low a level. For some apprentices the costs associated with getting to work meant that it was not worth their while to take up an apprenticeship. Although all posts were being filled the number of applicants was disappointing.

It was however noted that this was not a funded scheme and therefore any costs associated with raising the level of income would have to be met from the services offering the apprenticeship. A suggestion had been to set the level at the National Age Related Minimum Wage which would mean that apprentices aged between 18 and 20 would receive £5.03 per hour and those aged between 16 and18 would receive £3.72 per hour.

At a recent Disability Equality Scrutiny Board meeting it had been suggested that an apprenticeship should be set up for a disabled person (for a person under the age of 19). This had led to a request for an additional apprenticeship to be set up for one of the Council’s Looked After Children too. A proposal was therefore being put forward for central funding for these two posts and it was anticipated that this would cost around £25k.

Robert O’ Reilly noted that during 2012 the Council had appointed 18 apprentices. Seven of these apprentices had since found permanent employment at the Council and two had been permanently employed in other organisations.

In 2013, 17 apprenticeships would be offered and three apprentices had already started in September and three more had been appointed. The next assessment centre would be taking place soon. Councillor Quentin Webb encouraged Members of the Committee to attend one of these sessions to enhance their understanding of the process.

Robert O’Reilly explained that all Council vacancies were now advertised on the Jobs Go Public website. In addition apprenticeships were also advertised on Facebook, Twitter and through the West Berkshire Training Consortium. Councillor Mollie Lock queried whether Officers could go into schools to promote the scheme. The Head of HR explained that the Council did not have the resources to undertake this work. Members queried whether it would be possible to email schools about the scheme and the vacancies in July each year. Officers agreed to discuss this issue at the next Schools HR Co-ordination Group.

Councillor David Betts queried what percentage of applicants came from outside of the conurbations of Newbury and Thatcham. He was concerned that young people in the east of the district would go to jobs fayres in Reading and would therefore not be aware of the opportunities at West Berkshire Council. He was also concerned that transport costs would dissuade them from applying. Robert agreed that he would include this information into the report that would be brought to the next meeting.

Councillor Quentin Webb thanked Robert O’ Reilly for the update.

RESOLVED that  a written report be brought to the next meeting.