Member Article

Leeds' businesses given apprenticeship advice

Businesses across Leeds can now access free and impartial advice about any issues related to apprenticeships and how they can help their business thanks to a new city-wide Apprenticeship HUB.

Backed by funding from Leeds City Region, the HUB will be working with small to medium sized businesses across the city and young people aged 16-24 to help match businesses with apprentices and vice versa.

The HUB has already worked with over 60 businesses that are looking to create new apprenticeship opportunities and has registered 450 young people through the various workshops and events it has held.

Since 2011 nearly 15,000 apprenticeships have been created in Leeds and currently there are over 200 opportunities available in the city, ranging from kitchen assistants and business administrators to engineers.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council executive board member with responsibility for leisure and skills, said: “The Apprenticeship HUB is a great resource for businesses and young people alike. In Leeds we want to dramatically increase numbers of young people accessing apprenticeship opportunities in the city and grow the number of businesses that are delivering apprenticeships as part of delivering our ambition to become a NEET (young person not in education, employment or training) free City by 2015.

“Already this year the city has taken great strides in seeking to reduce youth unemployment among 16-24 year olds, and helping those who may need additional support to make the choices that help them to progress.

Accountancy firm Kirk Newsholme, based at Thorpe Park in Leeds, is one business currently working with the Apprenticeship HUB to offer more apprenticeships to young people. The company engages with schools in the local community to give young people details about the advantages of apprenticeships as an alternative to university.

Kirk Newsholme currently has three apprentices, two of which have been with the company for two years and are due to complete their accountancy studies next year, and one who joined in September, working in the business services team as a trainee accountant and studying for her industry qualification.

Jill Wright, a director at Kirk Newsholme, said: “Our apprentices are enthusiastic, engaged young people who are very keen to learn. We have found that with the right people, the level of enthusiasm and engagement they bring along is fantastic and a great addition to our company, so the investment soon pays for itself.

Leeds’ new Apprenticeship HUB has already delivered a range of sessions for young people interested in starting their careers this way including workshops on making a winning application, ‘your hired’ interview skills sessions and promoting opportunities and vacancies to young people across the city.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison .