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107 apprentices in 100 days!
St Helens Chamber and St Helens Council have broken their own target of creating 100 Apprenticeships in 100 Days.
The Chamber and the Council joined forces back in April after obtaining resources from the European Social Fund to launch the campaign to generate 100 apprenticeships, and at the end of the 100 days have created a fantastic 107 apprenticeships.
Benefits of recruiting apprentices
Steve Gange, Chairman at St Helens Chamber, explained: “The Chamber has been working closely with local businesses, to support them in recognising the benefits that recruiting apprentices can bring to their workforce.
“Businesses have identified vacancies in their business that could be filled by an apprentice and the Chamber has then helped them to recruit to fill the position. By the end of the 100 day campaign we have identified a total of 107 vacancies that we are now working hard to fill.”
Brown's Short Break Respite Services pledge vacancies
Brown’s Short Break Respite Services in Blackbrook is one business that has pledged to fill their vacancies with local apprentices. Brown’s provides valuable respite services to those caring for adults with disabilities, learning difficulties or mental illness.
Managing director Marie Brown commented: “We have worked with the Chamber since we started up 6 years ago so when they told us about this campaign it sounded ideal for us. Our business is currently expanding and we are hoping to move into our own dedicated premises in the autumn so we knew we would need to recruit over the summer.
“We find that employing people who are just starting out in their working life has a great benefit to our business, as it allows us to instil our company values in them from day one. We also find them to be very enthusiastic and adaptable. They are a great help in delivering sessions in subjects like ICT and art and crafts; things which just seem to come more naturally to the younger generation."
21 year-old Jayne Greenwood from Newton le Willows was one of the first apprentices to find work thanks to the 100 Apprentices in 100 Days campaign and now works for Brown’s Respite as an apprentice care worker.
A fantastic start to young people's working lives
Cllr Marie Rimmer, Leader of St Helens Council, commented: “The Council is very proud to have been able to support this extremely worthwhile campaign, which is giving so many of our young people a fantastic start to their working lives.
“I would like to thank all the businesses who have recognised the valuable contribution young people can bring to their business and have offered them employment in what is a very difficult economic time.”
All the young people recruited to fill the 107 apprenticeships vacancies identified through the campaign are aged 16-24, unemployed and from St Helens.
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