Apprentice Graduate - Will Kemp

Will Kemp

Local Taxation apprentice, Will Kemp has recently graduated from his apprenticeship with Brighton & Hove City Council and has landed himself with a new job at Lewes District Council as a Revenues and Benefits caseworker.

Will was studying towards a Level 3 IRRV qualification, which he successfully completed. His apprenticeship was done within the office with an assessor who came in at regular intervals to ensure he was completing the work that had been set and could help answer any questions he might have had.

His new job will include answering customer queries and maintaining council tax and benefits accounts.

Will said: "I'm really happy that my time at Brighton & Hove City Council, and passing my qualification, has enabled me to get this job and I would encourage others to go down the apprenticeship route."

National Apprenticeship Week 2016

It’s National Apprenticeship Week and Brighton & Hove City Council apprentices are holding and attending a variety of events.

On the first day of National Apprenticeship Week, the council gained a new apprentice. Stephanie Baker is an apprentice standards and achievement administrator for the Post 16 Development Team and she will be completing a business administration course at City College Brighton & Hove.

Stephanie and Theo Duncumb Rogers, communications apprentice, will be attending the Learning, Skills and Employment Partnership meeting where they will speak to employers about hiring apprentices and the benefits they can provide. They will talk about how they got into their apprenticeships, their experiences as apprentices, and how they are promoting apprenticeships through taking part in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge.

Members of the Brathay Apprentice Challenge team will also be attending the launch of the Greater Brighton Employer Pledge, produced by the Employer Skills Task Force. The Task Force has set the city a target of a minimum of 1,000 new apprenticeships in 1,000 days. The team will be going to network and promote their work for the Brathay Apprentice Challenge to employers and advertise future events the apprentices will be putting on.

The Brighton & Hove City Council apprentice ambassadors will also be putting on a roadshow and graduation for all the apprentices at the council.

The morning will consist of an introduction by Sue Moorman, Head of Human Resources & Organisational Development, inspirational speakers, group activities and training sessions.

In the afternoon there will be a graduation ceremony, hosted by Executive Director Children’s Services, Pinaki Ghoshal, to celebrate the achievements of all the graduate apprentices from the council over the last year. 

There will be representatives from Job Centre Plus, the National Apprenticeship Service, Creative Process, City College Brighton & Hove and many more.

The apprentices will also be getting ready for the careers fair being held by Sussex Chamber of Commerce on Monday 21 March. It will be an opportunity to encourage young people to apply for apprenticeships and also to network with employers and training providers.

Follow the apprentices on twitter @BrightonHoveCC

Find more information about the Brathay Apprentice Challenge here

More information on the 1,000 apprentices in 1,000 days pledge can be found here

Varndean College Apprenticeship Event

Georgia and Trevor at Varndean College

Our apprentice ambassadors, Georgia Easteal and Trevor Lee attended Varndean College’s Apprenticeship Event yesterday to speak to young people about Brighton & Hove City Council and the apprenticeships they provide.

The event consisted of 23 different employers and training providers from a range of job sectors education, social care, finance, creative and digital media, construction and more.

Trevor and Georgia spent the day speaking to Year 11s and college students about what options there are after they finish their education.

They advised people on apprenticeships, what they involved and where they could lead in the future.

Many students said they were interested in doing an ICT apprenticeship and Trevor, an ICT apprentice himself, was able to explain to them all the different kinds of ICT apprenticeships that the council provided.

Georgia, Sustainable Transport apprentice, said: "There were a lot of people who showed a real interest, and it was great to be able to show them all the pathways that apprenticeships create."

Brighton & Hove City Council apprentices take on the Brathay Apprentice Challenge

five members of the council's team

A team of nine apprentices from Brighton & Hove City Council will be taking part in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge, the search for the apprentice team of the year in England.

The Brathay Apprentice Challenge involves teams of apprentices from organisations all over England competing to be crowned the apprentice team of the year.

The chosen team members include apprentices from finance, IT, procurement, sustainable transport, communications and an electrician apprentice.

They will have to undertake a series of exciting and interactive work-related challenge to develop new skills and showcase their employer by engaging with young people and businesses to promote the benefits of apprenticeships.

The challenges are designed to ensure that the teams demonstrate their teambuilding, leadership, logistical and communications abilities.

The council apprentices will be organising lots of events such as school visits, meeting with employers and doing a community project over the following months to help them win the Challenge and promote apprenticeships along the way.

Team leader, Trevor Lee, said "I'm very excited to have been chosen to participate in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to really demonstrate our skills and learn new ones, whilst also raising the profile of apprenticeships and creating more opportunities for them throughout our city."

For more information on the Brathay Apprentice Challenge visit: www.brathay.org.uk/challenge

New Apprentice

Luke Sheldon-Edwards

Age: 20

Apprenticeship: ICT Apprentice

Qualification: NVQ Level 2 ICT Professional Competence

Why did you choose an apprenticeship?

Becoming an apprentice was a decision I made after a lot of thinking about my time at College. I enjoyed the subjects I studied, but I found that the listen/write/repeat method of learning didn’t suit me, and that the few practical courses I had done were much more engaging. For me, the difference was between knowing all these facts, and actually understanding them.

I didn’t want to go to University where I would never really connect with what I was studying. An Apprenticeship seemed like a great alternative to this, especially in the IT field. There are the massive advantages of being paid while you learn, and gaining real work experience at an early stage.

I’m now part of the Web development team in Brighton & Hove City Council. I learn new things and gain new skills every day, and everyone is incredibly supportive and happy to share their knowledge and experience.

Where do you go to college?

The apprenticeship is provided by City College Brighton & Hove, who provide assessors to support you as you work and complete your course.

Background

I studied Biology, Anthropology, Sociology and Psychology at Varndean College. After this, I worked as a part time social worker for the better part of a year before seeking an ICT focused apprenticeship. I was able to join the Web team despite having no previous web development work experience, only an enthusiasm for computing technology.

Hove Park - Year 9 Options Evening

Ambassadors Georgia and Jamie visited Hove Park School on their year 9 options evening to talk to students about apprenticeships.

Georgia & Jamie with Hove Park PSHE team leader,
Mr Warwick

The ambassadors spent the evening talking to year 9 pupils and their parents and carers. They were able to answer questions and provide information that many students and parents didn't know about apprenticeships. 

Many of them had not realised you could do an apprenticeship straight after school, as some people had thought that college was the only option.

Georgia said, "It was my first school visit as an apprentice ambassador and it was such a brilliant experience. It was great to help and advise parents and students as many people we spoke to were unaware of apprenticeships.

"I can't wait to visit more schools in the future!"

'Why my apprenticeship worked for me'

Rachel Maddison

Brighton & Hove City Council apprentice ambassador, Rachel Maddison, spoke to City College Brighton & Hove about why her apprenticeship has worked so well for her and how it can be a great opportunity for young people.

Rachel did a Level 3 Business and Administration apprenticeship, after which she managed to get a permanent position as a procurement advisor.

She will soon be starting her second apprenticeship with the council in Procurement and Supply Management.

Rachel said: "It still astounds me to think two years ago I was unemployed and lacking any kind of confidence or direction and now I'm happy and in a job I love."


Read the full story here

Apprentice Graduate - Ellie Bacon

Ellie Bacon

Ellie Bacon

Communications Apprentice, Ellie Bacon has recently graduated from her apprenticeship with Brighton and Hove City Council and has now moved up to London where she has started doing work experience with BBC TV entertainment. She spent 2 years working with the press office and web team within the Communications department, putting together press releases of stories that involved Brighton council, working on news desk, making short promotional films, and working on social media and web content.

Ellie achieved her level 3 NCTJ Journalism diploma, which is a new trailblazer apprenticeship at Lambeth College.

Ellie, said: “My apprenticeship has been amazing, I've learnt so much from everyone in the communications team and gained a national qualification which I can take with me where ever I go next. It has been an amazing spring board to my career and I leave with no debt which I would have if I went to university"

Ellie has made way for new Communications Apprentice, Theo Duncumb Rogers. 

New Apprentice

Georgia Easteal

Age: 16

Apprenticeship: Transport Projects Apprentice

Qualification: NVQ Level 2 Business Administration

Why did you choose an apprenticeship?

I did a lot of research during year 11 on which education path I would go down after leaving school. I was unsure which career I was interested in and I didn’t want to go to college for two years and finish with qualifications that would not help me get the job I wanted.

I went to Longhill High School, who provided information on apprenticeships and we were visited by the apprentice ambassadors. This, and my own research, made me choose an apprenticeship as I know that I would be receiving good training, learning many useful skills and it would open up opportunities for me.

As I have come straight from school I was not sure what to expect, it took a few days to settle in but I got used to it very quickly. Everyone is really supportive and I am learning lots of new skills.

I’m glad I decided to do an apprenticeship as it has given me a sense of responsibility and along with earning my own money, knowing that my work is helping the residents of Brighton and Hove is a reward in itself.

Where do you go to college?

My college course is provided by City College, however I am able to do all my work in the workplace so I don’t need to go to college every week.

Background

I’ve recently left school and this apprenticeship placement is my first type of work I’ve ever done. One of my hobbies is dance which I do every Friday and also did as one of my GCSE options. 

New Apprentice

Theo Duncumb Rogers

Age: 19 

Apprenticeship: Communications Apprentice
Qualification: NCTJ Level 3 Junior Journalist

Why did you choose an apprenticeship?

I had a gap year in which I spent most of the time wondering what I should do. I didn’t know what I would study at university and didn’t want to spend a ridiculous amount of money to study something that I was unsure I wanted to do. I also didn’t want to be burdened with the debt that university comes with. I thought an apprenticeship was the right thing for me as I would gain experience and a free qualification, which I wouldn’t get in a regular job.

I now work in the Brighton & Hove City Council press office where I write press releases, answer media enquiries and help run the council’s social media sites. Brighton & Hove City Council are the only local authority in the south east that employees journalist apprenticeships so am really grateful to be given this opportunity. 

Where do you go to college?

I attend Lambeth College in London once a week where I study shorthand, media law and news reporting.

Background

After finishing college at BHASVIC, I took a gap year in which I got a job at Boots to gain some experience. I also did a bit of travelling where I went to Gran Canaria, Paris and I interrailed around Europe. I attended Glastonbury festival and volunteered with Oxfam at Bestival which was a really great experience.