The current Government drive toward the Apprenticeship framework has resulted in over 250,000 Apprentices in the UK. The team is the driving force behind apprenticeship programmes for the Council. Currently there are eight 14 - 16 year old business and administration placements within Gloucestershire County Council (GCC). Furthermore, we are working towards a strategy of implementing 16 - 18 and 19 + apprenticeships within the Care Sector. They operate as a partnership programme between the student, employer and educational institution to provide a framework of NVQ 2 and/or 3 with key skills qualifications and a technical certificate blended with workplace learning. The aim is to implement this strategy for Health & Social Care Apprenticeships in the Care Sector but then spread its wings to the rest of the Council in other valuable subjects such as business administration. Apprenticeship schemes are seen as aiding long-term recruitment by promoting the Council and Care Sector and making links that may lead to future employment.

The expansion of the team's objectives has necessitated branching out into key projects for GCC. We are currently undertaking work in a number of areas such as:

• Compiling a process of a suitable candidates register to sit within the recruitment process to utilise otherwise lost applicants
• Workforce planning strategy and implementation for Hard to Fill posts within Environment and Libraries
• Overseeing and coordinating the National Graduate Development Programme within the Council
• Project to look at job descriptions across the Council