More than 1,300 apprentices set to be created in Liverpool
More than 1,300 apprenticeships are set to be created in Liverpool during the next three years.
The city council has teamed up with Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool Community College and the Eldonian Group to create the scheme.
The project will be particularly aimed at 16-19 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (Neet); care leavers; teenage parents; looked after children; young offenders; residents from disadvantaged communities and black and minority ethnic groups.
Employers to be targeted include sectors that do not have a high take-up rate of apprenticeships, and those in areas which are a priority for the region, such as the low carbon economy.
Cllr Nick Small, Liverpool’s cabinet member for employment, enterprise and skills, said: “The new Liverpool Apprenticeship Service will play a significant role in creating high quality employment opportunities forpeople in the city. A lack of skills is the main factor in preventing residents from securing employment and that is why this scheme is so important to reducing worklessness in the city."
The city council is investing £800,000 into the scheme known as the Liverpool Apprenticeship Service, and the community college will put in a further £300,000.
Details of how to apply for positions have not yet been released.
Opposition Liberal Democrat spokesman for employment and skills, Cllr Pat Maloney, said there needed to be proper jobs for youngsters to take up after serving an apprenticeship.
Seven youngsters recently took part in the council's own Care Leaver Apprenticeship scheme, yet only one has secured permanent employment.
He said: "We need to ensure the quality of the training, make sure qualifications are recognised by industry and that there is a job at the end of it. The record on the care leavers programme is disappointing. We need to make sure the apprenticeships are effective, both for the people involved, and also so that we get value for money."
A new community interest company (CIC) is being set up to run the project, which is part of the council's commitment to increase the number of apprenticeships. The council will have a 19.9% share in the not-for-profit company and will be represented on the board of directors.
Jack Stopforth, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said: "There is no more important issue in this city than youth employment and training, and it's quite right that the Chamber is at the forefront of promoting opportunities for young people."
According to the new CIC's business case, 250 apprenticeships should be created in the first year.
Elaine Bowker, principal of Liverpool Community College, said: “We are delighted to be part of the new Liverpool Apprenticeship Service.
"The partnership will significantly improve prospects for local young people and contribute to the city’s economy. The apprenticeship model is a great example of meeting the demand from employers."
Tony McGann, vice-chairman of the Eldonian Group, which started life as the housebuilding association, said he hoped many of the apprenticeships would be taken up by youngsters from the north of the city.
The council said it has already succeeded in creating 635 apprenticeships since May, 2010. Around 250 were created in the hotel sector through the De Vere Academy, 133 in the private sector through a business grant scheme, 100 through the Merseyside Apprenticeship Programme, 80 by Liverpool council, 28 at Liverpool Mutual Homes, 24 at Enterprise – the council's highways and rubbish collector joint venture (JV) partner – and 20 at Glendale, the council's parks maintenance JV partner.
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