Essex County Council has been shortlisted for Macro Employer of the Year in the National Apprenticeship Awards 2012. 

As Essex County Council has over 5000 employers and supports the county’s youth through the Essex Apprentice scheme, and currently employs 33 apprentices at the county council itself, ECC has been shortlisted as one of the best employers in the country for our ongoing commitment to Apprenticeships. 

Essex County Councillor Stephen Castle, Cabinet Member for Education, Lifelong Learning and 2012 Games commented, “This is great news. The Essex Apprentice scheme has been working with Essex teens since 2009 and has placed over 2000 young people, and we aim to place over 700 this year alone. As a council, we also follow our own advice and currently have 33 apprentices and over the last five years have trained 446 young people.” 

The apprentices currently working at Essex County Council are learning skills under Business Administration and Law and Health, Public Services and Care. The council actively encourages line managers to think about taking on an apprentice when entry level positions are advertised. There is guidance and support available for hiring managers that are keen to do so. 

Councillor Castle added, “Apprenticeship opportunities within the council cross a range of our services to generate our own pool of skilled and highly-motivated workers who, we hope, will go on to have successful future careers with us. They help us to harness young talent, avoid skills gaps in the future and also deliver other benefits including reduced costs, improved recruitment and increased staff retention.” 

Through the Essex Apprentice Scheme, there are young people working at Essex businesses across a wide range of sectors. From Engineering to Transport and Logistics to the Energy Sector and Health and Social Care, there is something to suit everyone. 

For more information on the Essex Apprentice scheme and the support available to both businesses that want to take on an apprentice and a young person that may be interested in a position, please visit www.essex.gov.uk/essexapprentice