Press release: Apprenticeships – they are the way forward

Bertie Baxter met with Councillor David Elkin to show him how he is learning to become a civil engineer through the East Sussex County Council apprenticeship programme.

Bertie, 16, is one of two apprentices doing a civil engineering apprenticeship in the Highways Team for the Council's Transport and Environment department. He was successfully interviewed and started working at East Sussex County Council in June 2009 after having done work experience one day a week with the team for a year. He met with Councillor Elkin at the Ringmer depot, The Broyle, to talk to him about the work he does.

Councillor David Elkin, the Council's Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness, said: “I was an apprentice when I was 15 and I cannot describe how valuable it was for me. I was learning to be a tool maker and not only did it literally, teach me the tools of my trade, but it gave me the confidence to make the most of my career. Because of the skills I learnt as an apprentice I was able to go on and do a whole range of different jobs before becoming a self-employed business man. It was great to hear that Bertie is getting as much out of being an apprentice as I did.”

Councillor Meg Stroude, the County Council's Lead Member for Children and Families, met with Marisa Reid who is one of two apprentices doing a youth work apprenticeship in the Council's Youth Development Service. She started work in September 2009 and works out of the Battle Youth Centre, London Road.

Councillor Stroude said: “It is wonderful to see young people like Marisa being so enthusiastic and interested in helping other young people. The apprenticeship scheme is a great chance for young people to get a step onto the career ladder and gain qualifications at the same time.”

East Sussex County Council is now one of the largest employers of apprentices aged 16 to 18 in East Sussex. It is now working on encouraging other employers to look at the benefits of taking on apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship week runs from Monday February 1 to Friday February 5.

If you are an employer and want to find out how to recruit an apprentice call 08000 150 600.

If you are a young person looking to start an apprenticeship visit The apprenticeships website or our pages on Apprenticeships at East Sussex County Council.

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