New show from Public Sector HR Podcast on Apprenticeships
Public Sector HR Podcast show #017 was released recently with a focus on Apprenticeships.
This month’s show looks at apprenticeships from a number of different perspectives. We hear from the Government department responsible for apprenticeships, the newly set up National Apprenticeship Service, an employer who has recruited over 100 apprentices in 100 days and two ‘Apprentices of the Year’.
My first guest is Ian Watmore, who is currently the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and he talks to me about why the Government is focusing heavily on apprenticeships and his plans for recruiting more apprentices into the Civil Service.
Next up is David Way from the National Apprenticeship Service, which came into being on 1st April this year. David tells me why the service was set up and what support they are able to offer.
Following David, Sue Williams from Knowsley Council shares some of the secrets of their highly successful apprenticeship scheme, as well as giving some tips how to recruit and retain the best calibre apprentices.
Finally, we hear from two apprentices who have both achieved the accolade of ‘Apprentice of the Year’. Kirsten Taylor is an apprentice with North West Employers Organisation and Warrington Council’s ’Apprentice of the Year’ and Amy Eddleston is an apprentice with Bramall Construction and is Women in Construction ‘Apprentice of the Year’. They both talk about what prompted them to join their organisations, what they like best about their schemes and their plans for the future.
To listen to the show click here and to check out previous shows visit www.publicsectorhrpodcast.co.uk
Posted in: General
Podcasting reaches Ministerial levels
I recently interviewed The Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families and newly appointed Minister for the North West, for a podcast we recorded at an event held by the North West Employers Organisation, that recognised the successful development of Elected Councillors in Local Government.
The Minister presented awards to the Councils that have this year achieved ‘Charter’ recognition for their work in training and developing elected members of their councils. Afterwards, she told me “It’s absolutely critical that we have good people in councillor roles, leading councils, giving councils good political leadership and working really closely with their communities and meeting those communities needs.That’s what is at the heart of local government for me.”
It was useful to be reminded of the huge role that ‘Elected Members’ have to play in the leadership and direction of our local authorities. I’ll consider that the next time my local elections come around.
If you want to stay right up to date with all the latest blog postings it’s really simple – all you need to do is ‘subscribe’ free. You can do that in a couple of ways, either via email by entering your email address in the box in the left hand column – you’ll receive the latest blog updates in your Inbox as soon as they’re published or via RSS by clicking the orange button.
Prized People are the Northwest region’s Podcast Production and Jobcast Production specialists, to find out more visit www.prizedpeople.co.uk
Posted in: General
Why employers should sign the 'Skills Pledge'
This week I went to a North West launch of the employers ‘Skills Pledge’ at the swish Lowry Hotel in Manchester. The event was jointly hosted by the North West Employers Organisation and the Learning Skills Council and featured a number of speakers including Neil Scales, Chief Executive of Merseytravel
and Maggie Mooney, Chief Executive of Carlisle City Council. Both Maggie and Neil talked about the tremendous improvements in morale, customer service and financial performance since introducing ‘Skills for Life’ training and urged other organisations to sign the pledge.
Liz McQue, Chief Executive Designate of the NWEO, described the event as “a great success because local authorities are better armed with information about what support they can get, so that we can really raise our game on the skills agenda for the workforce and our communities”.
We captured some of the key points of the event in a podcast which can be heard by clicking here.
If you want to stay right up to date with all the latest blog postings it’s really simple – all you need to do is ‘subscribe’ free. You can do that in a couple of ways, either via email by entering your email address in the box in the left hand column – you’ll receive the latest blog updates in your Inbox as soon as they’re published or via RSS by clicking the orange button.
Prized People are the Northwest region’s Podcast Production and Jobcast Production specialists, to find out more visit www.prizedpeople.co.uk
Posted in: General
