Agenda item

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development submitted a report updating Members on the Council’s apprenticeship programme.  The Head of HR and Organisational Development provided a summary of the report and explained how the apprenticeship levy was used to support the educational development of eight apprentices in a number of service areas across the council.  The number of new apprentices taken on in 2018 was six.  

In response to a query from Councillor R Cheswright, the Head of HR and Organisational Development explained the use of apprenticeships in relation to hard to recruit areas within the Council such as planning, environmental health and revenues and benefits, and the Council’s role within the Hertfordshire Apprentice Alliance.  He explained that the period of time to complete a course of study and an apprentice’s length of stay with the Council, was usually around 18 months or 24 months depending on the level, adding that the current apprentices had great potential and one had been praised by the incoming Chief Executive for their support in recruiting a new Head of Service. 

Members noted that the report had been produced at the request of the Chairman of HR Committee who wanted to ensure that both the Committee (and full council) via the Minutes, were sufficiently aware of the significant work and progress being done regarding apprentices. 

The Head of HR and Organisational development outlined the key developments:

·               HR represented East Herts Council at the HAA (Hertfordshire Apprenticeship Alliance between Hertfordshire local authorities, the four main colleges, Hertfordshire University, local business and training providers.  The aim of the alliance was to share knowledge, support, the development of apprenticeships and work towards keeping the levy funding with Hertfordshire.

·                HR worked with the Hertfordshire Careers service supporting the schools work experience initiatives; encouraging young people to explore the range of opportunities available at the Council.  It was noted that HR and Officers also attended careers fairs at Secondary Schools, Colleges, local businesses and Hertfordshire University.  Some of the Careers fairs were specifically targeted to encourage young people to think about the opportunities available within hard to recruit areas, e.g. planning and Environmental Health.  Members noted other events based around informing young people about the whole range of apprenticeships available and the services the Council offered, including career opportunities in a range of areas such as communications, media, finance and HR as well as more specific sectors such as Environmental Health and Planning.

·               The Head of HR and Organisational Development advised that the Council  worked with Oaklands College, as well as St Albans and Hertsmere Councils to help shape the content of the Town Planning apprenticeship qualification in 2016/17 to ensure it met current business needs; the programme continued to be used today.

·               The Council was also part of a Cross County Strategic Level Planning Group of all authorities which met regularly.  The Head of HR and Organisational Development explained that it had been very challenging to combine the planning service in the same way that the Council had achieved with Building Control, but this was on the radar and would be advanced if the opportunity arose.

Councillor P Ruffles commented that he was keen to avoid the “silo” approach of Local Government in relation to the Hertfordshire Alliance.

The Head of HR and Organisational Development explained that the Council had adopted a “grow your own” approach to staff development and Officers were now visiting schools in an effort to demonstrate career opportunities within Local Government.

The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED – that the Human Resources updated be noted.