Developing the right skilled, flexible and resilient workforce able to achieve our ambition of ‘A Better and Fairer Salford’, can only be realised if we continue to invest in skills and attract, develop and retain talent in the city.
High quality skills and professional development delivered through apprenticeships can make a positive contribution to this by creating opportunities for people, of all ages, to undertake relevant qualifications, helping to raise skills, capabilities and aspirations.
Salford’s economy is performing strongly with many jobs being created locally however, there is an opportunity through the fund to further stimulate Salford employers’ engagement in apprenticeships, over and above existing help-to-work provision.
The fund aims to:
Priority groups includes not in employment, education or training; looked after children; special educational needs and disabilities; Salford Futures; young offender; benefit claimants aged 18 or over.
The spirit of the fund is to engage local SMEs (organisations up to 250 employees who are non-levy payers) who are willing to employ Salford residents in long term sustainable jobs through an apprenticeship and also to support their existing workforce to close ‘skills gap’ in key sectors. These include health and social care, digital, manufacturing and construction, hospitality, business and professional services.
Through an application process, organisations will be able to access funding for the provision of apprenticeship training and where necessary access some support with employment costs.
The apprenticeship strategy forms part of the council’s wider commitment to developing employment and skills for residents, as well as raising employment standards - the principles of which are outlined in the City Mayor’s charter.