Members considered apprenticeships in the borough. The Lead Member explained that the borough was slightly behind its peers and there was impetus at both the national and local level to improve the situation. To lead by example, a step-change in approach was proposed. The council’s apprentice scheme had opened in 2013 funded by £40,000 of revenue funding for six apprentices. The target of 18 by April 2017 had then been set. The council currently had 12 apprentices and recruitment was ongoing. The target by 2018 was 33. Every time a post became vacant at the council the Head of Service and HR were tasked with considering if all or part of the role could be undertaken by an apprentice. There was therefore no revenue implication.

Members noted that the borough was holding a STEM apprenticeship day on 15 March 2017 to bring local schools and colleges together with local employers looking for apprentices. All procurement contracts now included a 2.3% of payroll  expectation or apprentices. The Joint Venture partner would include an expectation of at least 62 apprentices in the construction industry.

The Lead Member referred to an email sent to him by Councillor Beer in relation to Heathrow. It was hoped that the relationship between the Maidenhead Chamber of Commerce and Heathrow would result in higher recruitment of apprentices from the borough.

Members noted the National Apprentice Levy that was being imposed. Apprenticeships could involve recognised qualifications up to Masters level. Borough schools that were impacted by the levy, particularly small schools, would be supported.

The Deputy Lead Member for Ascot Regeneration commented that the levy was similar to the training levy introduced by the government 50 years ago, however the retention of funding was more challenging now. He had recently met an apprentice in the Grow Our Own team. He asked if council apprentices would have the opportunity to achieve recognised qualifications.

It was confirmed that the council was not interested in apprentices for cheap labour; a number of apprentices in finance and planning were already working towards qualifications.

The Lead Member for Finance offered to Members the example of his son who had left school with university offers but had decided to take up an apprenticeship instead on a building site. Eight years on he had just finished as the senior project manager on the 5 Broadgate site, the new home of UBS.

The Principal Member for Maidenhead Regeneration and Maidenhead highlighted the need to ensure proper training and mentoring was in place for each apprentice.

The Chairman placed on record his thanks to the Grow Our Own team.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Cabinet notes the report and:

i)      Notes the implications of the Apprenticeship Levy and the introduction of public sector apprenticeships targets which come into effect on 1 May 2017 and the impacts on the Council’s scheme.

ii)  Approves the increase in the number of apprenticeships within the Council to 33 for 2017/18 and the action plan to increase the number of apprenticeships more widely across the Borough (Appendix B).

iii) Delegates authority to the Managing Director and Lead Member for Children’s Services to establish the potential charging of the levy for maintained schools where employees are deemed to be part of a local authority’s wage bill.