Leeds City Council has announced that it has placed in the top 100 apprenticeship employers in the UK.
Published by the Department for Education, the list identifies the most outstanding apprenticeship employers from around the country and has seen Leeds enter the rankings for the first time.
Coming in at 90th on the list, Leeds City Council is the best-ranked representative of local government, with Greater Manchester Combined Authority sat in 92nd and Norfolk County Council in 97th. The council currently has more than 632 employees on apprenticeships between levels 2 and 7, with the last year bringing 316 employees starting apprenticeships on a range of pathways, including social care, child care, housing, digital, and project management.
Deputy Leader of the council, and Executive Member for Resources, Cllr Debra Coupar, said:
“We are delighted to be recognised by the DfE as one of the top 10 apprenticeship employers in the UK. This is a testament to our commitment to providing high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds in Leeds.
“Apprenticeships are a vital way of developing the skills and talents of our workforce, as well as supporting the local economy and combatting the skills shortages in some sectors. We are proud of our apprentices and the valuable contribution they make to our council and our city.”
Away from local government, there were 15 public sector organisations featured in the top 100 list. The highest placed of these was the Department for Work and Pensions, which came in at 11th, whilst many of the others came from the blue light organisations. These include:
- Northumbria Police – 42nd
- Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service – 56th
- Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service – 84th
- Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service – 88th
- London Fire Brigade – 91st
- West Midlands Police – 96th
- Merseyside Police – 98th
Government organisations ranging from the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office, to the Department for Education and HM Revenue and Customs were also included in the list, which highlights the crucial role that apprenticeships play in the modern public sector workforce.
Image credit: iStock
