Stockport has come out tops in Greater Manchester for apprenticeship participation by 16 – 17 year olds an din the top 25 local authorities across the country.
According to recent data Stockport also has the fourth highest percentage of 16-17 year olds participating in Apprenticeships in England. The data, published by the Department for Education, reveals that 6.9% of 16-17 year olds – or 458 young people – are now participating in Apprenticeships – the highest participation in Greater Manchester.
Overall, participation in education and training has also seen a significant increase year-on-year of 3.3%, placing Stockport in the top 25 for local authority areas in the country.
Stockport has greatly reduced the “not known” 16-17 year olds from 3.5% in 2011 to just 1.6% in 2012.
Councillor Shan Alexander, Executive Member for Children & Young People, said:
“Over 450 young people have made Apprenticeship starts in the borough and this is extremely good news at a time of increased pressures on youth employment. This demonstrates the excellent close working between the Council’s 14-19 team and employers, schools and other organisations in Stockport.
“Stockport Council supports all forms of educational attainment for our young people, including academic and vocational qualifications. Increasing the number of young people obtaining apprenticeship starts is one of the Council’s key targets.”
Stockport’s success is due to:
– Highly successful information events for young people, organised by 14-19 Services, where Apprenticeships were promoted.
– Grant schemes including the Supported Apprenticeship Scheme, Stockport’s 50:50 Apprenticeship Scheme, and the Incentivised Scheme to encourage employers to take on apprentices.
– Introduction of Higher Apprenticeship schemes
– Increased recruitment to the Council’s Apprenticeship scheme.
– Distribution of information packs to Year 11s and college learners and improve the quality of Apprenticeship applications.
– Distribution of resources to secondary schools to give young people a good understanding of Apprenticeships and the reasons for completing an Apprenticeship.
– Increased knowledge of Apprenticeships and therefore improved information, advice and guidance offered to young people.
– Increased employer engagement through various funding and employer networking events.
– The introduction of PEEBS (People, education, employers’ brokerage service) linking young people wanting Apprenticeships with employers willing to offer them.