Partner Article

Apprenticeships available for Newcastle businesses

Following the recent success of the Apprenticeship Plus initiative, the Council have agreed to extend it further.

Employers from Newcastle are being given the opportunity to discover the positive aspects of recruiting apprentices whilst developing the infrastructure of their business. Employers that may be considering recruitment, but have been discouraged by the economic downturn_._

Newcastle City Council can help support the recruitment of a young person onto an Apprenticeship Programme, there are many types of Apprenticeships available.

The Apprenticeship Plus initiative has resulted in the successful recruitment of 34 young people onto Apprenticeships and have successfully worked with a number of Small/Medium Enterprises and large organisations to recruit and develop Apprentices to diversify the workforce, develop their business and help them grow.

Employers would be expected to make a contribution to the salary costs of the apprentice but this will be in negotiation with Newcastle City Council to see what is needed. The national minimum wage for an apprentice is £2.60 per hour. This equates to just over £5000 a year if the apprentice works 37 hour per week. Many employers pay more. The subsidy can be used to pay towards the minimum wage or can be used as an addition to increase the wage to a higher rate.

Assistance will be offered to the employer in finding the appropriate training provider, short listing and selecting young people for the apprenticeships.

For further information please call Elaine Withycombe on 0191 2986983 or email elaine.withycombe@newcastle.gov.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Elaine Withycombe .