South Yorkshire Mayor announces plans to create 300 new local apprenticeships

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard has announced plans to create 300 new apprenticeships in the region through a new Apprenticeship Hub.

The Apprenticeship Hub will launch later this year as a two-year pilot. It will be a one-stop shop for businesses, apprentices and anyone hoping to start an apprenticeship by providing:

Help for businesses (SMEs in particular) to access technical talent across the region to tackle skills shortages.
Information, advice and guidance services to apprentices, parents and employers.
Progression pathways and opportunities into and out of high-quality Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships
Help supporting development of a public sector approach to apprenticeships, including flexi-job apprenticeships.

South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, commented: “South Yorkshire doesn’t just need a bigger economy, we need a better economy. But if we’re going to get there, and if everyone is going to be able to access the jobs and opportunities that the new economy will bring, we need to make sure people have the right education and skills.

“That’s what this new Apprenticeship Hub is all about; offering people, organisations and businesses a ‘one-stop shop’ for all the information and support they need to get the right skills, in the right place, so we can all benefit from a better, bigger South Yorkshire economy.”

The Hub will be based at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority offices in Sheffield, and will be delivered through the South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership. It is expected to deliver at least 300 new apprenticeships by 2026.

Leader of Barnsley Council, Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton CBE, added: “Developing skills, talent and creativity in people of all ages will open up exciting prospects and help to drive forward our local economies. Apprenticeships go a long way in fulfilling this ambition.

“The new Apprenticeship Hub will help to support local people, organisations and businesses across South Yorkshire, finding opportunities so that everyone can fulfil their learning potential, helping them build the skills they need to get into work and progress their careers.”

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Strategy Economic Plan has a vision that South Yorkshire will recover and grow an economy that “works for everyone”. This includes, in terms of skills, developing 30,000 more people with higher level skills and 9,000 fewer people with low or no skills.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily