East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds met with an apprentice last week to find out how East Hampshire District Council supports young people around into apprenticeships.
Damian Hinds visited Cranford Controls, an innovative fire alarm manufacturing company based in Alton, to meet apprentice Ashley Turton (20) and find out more about his role and the support he has been given.
EHDC’s Apprenticeship Scheme subsidises wages and contributes towards transport and training for young people looking to get it into work.
The scheme provides an incentive to local companies considering taking on an apprentice and opens doors to careers that might otherwise stay closed.
Between eight and 10 apprentices are supported every year by the council's scheme and more than 60 have been gone through the programme since its inception.
The visit took place on Friday 11 February, the last day of the UK Apprenticeship Week.
Damian Hinds MP said: “It was a pleasure to meet Ashley and the team at Cranford Controls, and to learn more about their apprenticeship programme. Being able to gain a qualification that combines study at a technical college with direct and practical experience with an employer is a great opportunity for many young people, but also for employers keen to recruit and train staff for the future.
“It is important that we continue to support schemes like this going forward, and I applaud EHDC for the work they do to support local businesses with their own scheme.”
Cllr Ken Moon, EHDC Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Rural Affairs, said: “Apprenticeships are a great alternative because they offer the best of both worlds to young people still trying to carve out a career for themselves.
“By combining educational qualifications, real-life work experience and a regular pay-packet, apprentices can earn while they learn and get a great head-start in the world of work.”
EHDC’s scheme is available to all businesses that have an address in the district and pay business rates to the council. Businesses of all sizes are eligible for the scheme but applications from small and medium sized businesses are encouraged.
It offers up to two years match-funding per new apprenticeship post, up to £400 towards travel and up to £1,000 towards training (for over 25s only).
For details of the grant scheme go to EHDC’s website: https://www.easthants.gov.uk/apprenticeships