Public sector target for apprenticeships
Public sector organisations with 250 or more staff have a target set by the Government which requires 2.3% of the workforce to be started on an apprenticeship each year. As a public sector body in scope of this target, we must 'have regard' to the target. This means we must:
- Report our data annually (see Data Publication table below)
- Explain how we have had regard to the target
1. Data Publication - Public sector duty
Reporting percentages | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 |
Percentage of apprenticeship starts (both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) as a proportion of employment starts between 1 April to 31 March | 17.86% | 29.65% | 9.19% |
Percentage of total headcount that were apprentices on 31 March | 1.52% | 2.01% | 2.38% |
Percentage of apprenticeship starts (both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) between 1 April to 31 March as a proportion of total headcount on 31 March | 1.70% | 2.02% | 1.52% |
2. Actions taken towards meeting the public sector duty target
- In late February 2020 the Council appointed a full time permanent Apprenticeship Co-ordinator to be responsible for our progress towards reaching our public sector target and the overall apprenticeship offer for Gateshead Council.
- Developing an Apprenticeship Strategy and Delivery plan which aims to:
- Embed a positive apprenticeship culture across the whole Council where the benefits of apprenticeships are well recognised
- Maximise workforce capability through the roll-out of apprenticeships
- Increasing apprenticeship opportunities for Care Leavers and Looked After Children including developing work experience placements in order to provide opportunities to gain skills that will help them gain an apprenticeship with the Council when they are advertised.
- Engaging with maintained schools to maximise benefits from the apprenticeship levy in relation to Teaching Assistants, Teachers and School Business Managers, as well as a range of broader standards that could be used in the wider schools' workforce.
- Using our levy to train 3 social workers in 2019 and 4 social workers in 2020.
- Increased upskilling of staff through higher level degree apprenticeships.
- Developing apprenticeship career pathways from entry level to degrees/ masters levels.
- Promoting new relevant apprenticeship standards to staff when available.
- Regular meetings with services to discuss how apprenticeships can meet their skills shortages and succession planning, alongside strategies to ensure successful completion of apprenticeships starts.