Hampshire County Council has launched a new scheme, backed by £900 000, to create more apprenticeship places across the county. Through levy funds the pilot scheme will look to encourage small and medium enterprises and public bodies to offer apprenticeship places for some of the most vulnerable in communities, including care leavers, long-term unemployed, those with special educational needs and disabilities and young people.
Councillor Keith Mans, Leader of Hampshire County Council, said:
“I am pleased that, as a large local authority, we are able to contribute significantly to promoting employment in Hampshire, with the money to support employers to invest in training and develop people for their future workforce.
"Without this assistance, some companies would not be in any position to offer an apprenticeship.
“The levy transfers should help to maintain low rates of unemployment and perpetuate the level of economic prosperity benefitting Hampshire residents.”
The funding comes as part of the Apprenticeship Levy which was launched by the Government in May 2017 which was launched to develop vocational skills and committed to creating an additional 3 million quality apprenticeships in England by this year.
Local MP, Caroline Dinenage, has been a keen supporter of apprenticeship schemes since she was first elected in 2010. She was central to the formation of the Daedalus site, a disused former Military Airfield in the Gosport Constituency, which now offers thousands of student training places and attracts over 1800 local apprentices every year at CEMAST (Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Manufacturing & Advanced Skills Training) and CETC (Civil Engineering Training Centre).
Caroline commented:
“I am really pleased to see the work that Hampshire County Council are doing to create apprenticeship places for local residents. Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for people to enter the workforce.
“In Gosport, with only half a job per person, they are an offer a great chance for young people across the constituency to get the high quality training they need for skilled jobs when they have left education. From visiting apprentices and employers across the Gosport area I know that they are highly beneficial and rewarding for local residents and I look forward to the exciting new places that are going to be created.”
