Chesterfield Borough Council (CBC) is playing its part in ensuring the continuation of traditional building skills in the local economy.

"The Council's Operational Services Division has for a number of years realised the benefit of investing in young people, and we have probably the biggest and best apprentice programme in the area," said Cllr Tony Rogers, the Borough's Lead Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods.

"The construction industry as a whole is lacking apprentice-served trade persons and we have experienced difficulties in times past recruiting skilled people. The answer to this was to 'grow our own' and I must say, we do it very well."

-- Advertisement --

The Council currently employs 21 trade apprentices - bricklayers, joiners, gas engineers, plumbers and electricians.

Apprentices sign up to an apprenticeship agreement, which can be for three or four years depending on the trade. The Council does not guarantee continued employment at the end of the apprenticeship but to date it has been able to offer employment to all its apprentices as other trade persons have left through natural wastage such as retirement.

"Some do leave at the end of their apprenticeship to work elsewhere, but we view this as a contribution to the construction industry as a whole", said Cllr Rogers.

"The CBC apprentice training scheme has gained national recognition and our apprentices have won prestigious national awards from such lead bodies as the Learning Skills Council, the Association for Public Service Excellence and the Direct Works Forum.

"The key to our success has been to show a personal interest in each apprentice as an individual, set out a training programme, monitor progress through regular reviews and feedback from both work colleagues and college tutors, make sure they are placed with the right tradesperson and maintain good communication with the training provider."

(CD/JM)