APPRENTICESHIPS

UNLOCKING TALENTOur action plan to boost take-up in Waltham Forest

FOREWORD

Borough of Culture apprentices

Cllr Simon Miller

Introduction Waltham Forest is an ambitious borough with enormous employment

potential: from our thriving creative and cultural industries to our

established construction and health and social care sectors. We want

our economic growth to deliver benefits and opportunities for all

residents, as set out in our Think Work strategy.

Apprenticeships are a vocational option for residents that provide

opportunities to develop skills, gain qualifications and receive an

income, enabling residents to boost their life chances at any age.

Businesses require a skilled workforce to succeed and grow.

Apprenticeships offer businesses a route to securing the skills that can

otherwise be hard to find. owever, apprenticeships are currently

under-utililised both in Waltham Forest and nationally.

Our action plan, developed with local apprentices, sets out what we will

do to initiate a step-change in apprenticeships within our corner of

London. The plan aims to facilitate a cultural shift to increase the quality

and number of apprenticeships in Waltham Forest, so that they benefit

more of our residents and businesses.

34%

66%

Apprenticeships

Learners from WF

Learners not from WF

1,110 apprenticeship

places were reported

in Waltham Forest in

17/18.

About a third of these

were taken up by

residents.

Why apprenticeships?

As our Think Work strategy sets out, the world of work is rapidly

evolving, and technologies such as AI will increasingly change the

skills needed in many industries. Many of the jobs we recognise

today may be dramatically different in the near future and some will

no longer exist - an estimated 10-35% of UK jobs are at high risk

of replacement in the next 20 year

At the same time, our population is ageing, increasing the need for

adults to reskill throughout their extended working lives. The pace

of change in Waltham Forest is rapid - we need to make sure that

the borough and our residents have the skills and expertise to

succeed now and in the future.

We are also keen to raise the profile of vocational routes to good

jobs and decent incomes as a credible addition to academic routes.

Apprenticeships have a strategically important role here. Whether

as a school-leaver, or a fifty-year old looking for a new career path,

a large established business or a start-up needing skills to expand,

apprenticeships offer a high quality path to supporting our

residents and businesses by:

• Providing an opportunity for residents of all ages to gains

skills whilst working

• Supporting local businesses to expand their skill base

• Boosting learning and development, and the ability of

businesses to upskill and retain staff

• Making efficient use of the apprenticeship levy payments that

businesses and public sector organisations make.

We are committed to boosting apprenticeships across the borough to create more

opportunities for residents, the council, and our businesses.

Why apprenticeships?

Opportunity for residents of all ages to

gains skills whilst working

Supports local businesses to expand

their skill base

Boosts L&D in the Council and ability to upskill and retain staff

Efficient use of Council budgets for residents

We will boost apprentices across the borough in order to create more

opportunities for residents, the council, and our businesses.

Our apprenticeships journeyNational context

Given their strategic importance, the UK needs a large number

of apprenticeships across a wide range of disciplines. Despite

the UK Government recognising their value and introducing a

range of measures to increase the number of apprenticeships,

these are yet to produce the desired outcomes: there are a

relatively low number of apprenticeships undertaken, and the

rate is not increasing.

In fact, after the Government’s flagship policy – the

Apprenticeship Levy - was introduced, apprenticeship starts

across the UK fell by a quarter. The chance of the Government

meeting its target of reaching 3 million apprenticeships by

2020 looks very slim indeed.

Apprenticeship starts in England per quarterhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/766962/Apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-December-2018-2.pdf

Our apprenticeships journeyWaltham Forest

Across Waltham Forest the number of residents starting

apprenticeships showed a similar drop in 2017/18 reflecting

the national picture. However, we are increasingly offering

apprenticeship opportunities within the borough. A total of

1,110 apprenticeship places is reported in Waltham Forest as

at 2017/18.

Whilst take-up is disappointing, we know that our young

people are interested in apprenticeships. Our 2017 Big Youth

Conversation saw responses from 2,500 young people about

their aspirations and opportunities - it found that young

people thought that more and high quality apprenticeships

were one of the top three things that would most help them

fulfil their aspirations.

Our apprenticeships journeyWaltham Forest

As a Council, we are working hard to serve as a model of how a modern,

forward looking organisation can help residents and service its own needs

through apprenticeships.

Since April 2017 we have seen apprenticeship start figures rising year on year

with 22 in 2017/18 to 62 in 2019/20 a to date a total 143.

As well as supporting our residents to improve their life chances, this makes

effective use of our £500,000/year Apprenticeship Levy payments.

Whilst there are positive steps here, it’s clear that as both a Council and a

Borough we need to do more to boost the take-up, quality and perception of

apprenticeships. We need to work with residents, businesses, and education

providers if we are to boost the life chances of our residents, meet the needs of

businesses and fulfil our aspirations as a council.

Changing

perceptions

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities

We will boost apprentices across the borough in order to create more opportunities for residents, the council, and our businesses.

Our vision is to maximise the use of apprenticeships in

order to create more opportunities for residents, the

council, and our businesses.

We aim to drive a cultural shift that increases both the

quality and number of apprenticeships. We believe that

this will build resilience in our communities and benefit

the economy through good growth in Waltham Forest

and beyond.

We will achieve this through three approaches:

Vision and commitments

Our three key commitments for apprenticeships are:

LEADING BY EXAMPLE: as a large local employer, committed to boosting

opportunities for residents, we must lead by example and effectively use

our own apprenticeship levy payments.

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS: apprenticeships have a reputation as a second-

class option, which doesn’t reflect their modern-day status. We will combat

this at every opportunity.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES: we are well placed to use our relationships

with businesses and educational bodies to boost apprenticeship

opportunities, in line with our Life Chances and Think Work priorities.

Our approach: driving a cultural shift

CREATING FUTURES

Our corporate strategy, Creating Futures sets out an

approach to building our future through co-design, new

relationships and ways of working. Through drawing on our

shared strengths and assets as a borough, we will creatively

respond to the challenges we face and be radical in our

aspirations.

We will use a Creating Futures approach to increase

apprenticeships across the borough, using co-design

throughout. With limited resources we need to capitalise on

our connections and initiate a movement that changes

attitudes; we want to make apprenticeships everyone’s

business. We will also make practical changes that make it as

simple and as easy as possible to create apprenticeships and

find opportunities in the borough.

CASE STUDY: “Achieving personal development as well as career progression”

Waltham Forest Council’s Head of Digital and ICT change, Nohaila Alavi

has recently started an [Apprenticeship] MSc in Management practice at

Birkbeck College, University of London.

Nohaila started working at Waltham Forest Council in 2004 as an

Administration Assistant, since then she has held many roles, working

her way up to become Head of Service two years ago.

She oversees the Council’s Digital and ICT Change portfolio,

transforming services and the way we work; her brief includes leading a

team and overseeing a wide range of digital and technology projects as

part of Council’s new Digital and Technology Strategy.

Nohaila views her apprenticeship as fundamental to her progression as a

leader within Waltham Forest and upskill within her current role.

“I was looking at the various ways I could develop my leadership skills

and initially considered coaching; I started to create a personal

development plan and realised that a more structured, formal

qualification would benefit me.

The course at Birkbeck covers a lot of the essentials for

management including strategy, innovation and finance.

This opportunity is just as much about personal growth as

career progression; I left uni without a degree when I was very

young. I’ve gained a lot of experience since then but wanted to

ensure that I was investing in myself. I would recommend

apprenticeships for anyone who has a development need

regardless of what stage they are in their careers.

Many people don’t realise the wide variety of what

apprenticeships can offer. It’ is certainly a commitment and

requires dedication, but the hard work is extremely rewarding

and is already paying off”.

Changing

perceptions

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities

Changing perceptions: Creating a movement for apprenticeshipsWe need to change perceptions of

apprenticeships across the borough and be

ready to challenge them nationally. National

research shows that apprenticeships are often

characterised as the ‘third choice’ for young

people – an after-thought after university,

college or employment.

Young apprentices told us that their decision to

become an apprentice meant they were unusual

amongst their friends, but they felt that they had

made a choice that gave them both the income

and training that they were seeking. We have

also found that many people above the age of

25 do not realise that they could personally

benefit by becoming an apprentice.

Through the Life Chances Commission we found that teachers and school

communities often don’t promote apprenticeships as actively as other routes. We also

found that while parents are often supportive of apprenticeships in theory, they often

want their own child to pursue other routes. At the same time many hiring managers

are unaware of the breadth of apprenticeships and their potential for upskilling

existing employees.

Our aim is for everyone to be aware of their opportunity to become an apprentice or

hire an apprentice. We will challenge misconceptions that don’t reflect the modern-

day status of apprenticeships at every opportunity.

Changing

perceptions

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities

Changing perceptions: creating a movement for apprenticeships

Our Ambition is:

• to encourage schools to link T-level provision with progression

pathways into Apprenticeships

• to launch a better-quality apprenticeships awareness campaign (to

change the perception of the lesser value of apprenticeships

compared to degrees appears to degrees)

• increase the proportion of apprenticeships at levels 4 and 5 (higher) -

the best apprenticeships in addition to ensuring that level 3

(advanced), rather than level 2 (intermediate), is the minimum

standard for most apprenticeships targeted at young people

• ensure that apprenticeships is to lead to a genuine skills revolution,

progression to level 3 must be inbuilt within most level 2

apprenticeships

Changing

perceptions

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities

Changing perceptionsWhy?Apprenticeships have a reputation as a second-class option, which doesn’t reflect their modern-

day status. We will combat this at every opportunity.

Commitment Key activities Date SRO Department

Use all available channels

and opportunities to spread

a positive message about

apprenticeships

• Promote local opportunities during Apprenticeship

Week and during other events each year

• Utilise Waltham Forest News and frontline centres to

ensure stakeholders understand apprenticeships.

2019 Assistant

Director of

Comms

Corporate

Development

Work with partners to

encourage wider take-up of

apprentices and encourage

best-practice

• Convene a ‘apprenticeship group’ of strategic

partners to encourage take-up and ensure clear

pathways for school and college leavers.

• Launch an ambassador programme to advocate for

apprenticeships, starting within the Council.

2019 Director of

Employee

Experience

Corporate

Development

Demonstrate how

apprenticeships can support

development at all stages of

career development.

• Promote take-up of managerial apprenticeships within

the council with at least 20 starts at levels 5+.

• Encourage teaching and non-teaching staff within LA

maintained schools to undertake apprenticeships.

2021 Director of

Employee

Experience

Director of

Learning

Corporate

Development/

Families and

Homes

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities

Changing

perceptions

CASE STUDY: “I saw the opportunity and thought I had to do it”Sarmad Ahmed is a Compliance Officer within the Council’s

safeguarding and family support children’s service. He started his

apprentice last year as his first role within the Council.

“I was attracted to becoming an apprentice because I could learn

and get experience at the same time. I was already working but

wanted to get into the public sector; I saw the opportunity online

and thought I had to do it.

I work in a busy team with social workers, team managers, senor

practitioners and heads of service carrying out a range of

administrative tasks that help the department to run. I enjoy meeting

new people and knowing that I’m helping Waltham Forest. I feel

really motivated when colleagues ask for support with their work

and I provide a great service.

I want to progress in the Council, continue getting experience and

moving up in my career.”

Changing

perceptions

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities

Leading by example: Fulfilling our ambitions as a Council

Changing

perceptions

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities

Waltham Forest Council is an ambitious local authority. We are London’s first ever Borough of

Culture, are building a radically different Town Hall Campus, and creating capacity in our

communities to tackle societies most pressing issues.

As a large local employer, committed to boosting opportunities for residents, we must lead by

example and effectively use our own apprenticeship levy payments. We want to become an

exemplar organisation for apprenticeships; sharing our learning with others across the borough

and the public sector.

There are real benefits of this for the council. There are specific skills we require to deliver on

our objectives, including through digital programming, surveying and caring. We want to fill

these gaps by developing our workforce through increasing the number of council

apprenticeships and exploring opportunities for new types of apprenticeship.

Leading by exampleWhy?As a large local employer, committed to boosting opportunities for residents, we must lead by

example and effectively use our own apprenticeship levy payments.

Commitment Key activities Date SRO Department

Boost apprenticeships

starts from April 2019 in

council departments to 200

by end of 2022.

• Encourage take-up in departments with low numbers

of apprentices

• Prioritise availability of social work and digital

apprenticeship routes

End -

2022

Director of

Employee

Experience

Corporate

Development

Ensure we have a high

quality ‘gold standard’

apprenticeship offer

• Encourage progression of apprentices through

subsequent levels and track this

• Support those that require maths and English to

proceed beyond Level 2

• Allow apprentices to rotate their placements

By 2021 Director of

Employee

Experience

Corporate

Development

Support vulnerable young

people accessing

apprenticeships

• Seek to recruit a minimum of 6 care leavers into

council apprenticeships per annum

• Put in place a package of additional support for

managers to support vulnerable apprentices.

End-

2021

Director od Care

and Support

Families & Homes

Changing

perceptionsCreating

opportunities

Leading by

example

Creating opportunities: Boosting life chances across the borough We are committed to creating opportunities across Waltham Forest and

ensuring that our apprenticeship offer caters for and reaches the people

who need it most.

Apprenticeships are a key way of boosting life chances of people of all

ages; evidence shows that apprenticeships improve skill levels and

stimulate further training or study; they can increase wages and have a

positive effect on participants’ employment.

Through our Think Work programme we will work with employers to

create more opportunities and ensure businesses have the skills they

needs. We will look specifically at our key strategic sectors - creative,

construction and health care - to ensure they have the skills they need to

grow, and that there are clear pathways for progression into these

careers.

As we develop our wider strategic vision for the borough, we will ensure

apprenticeship routes are in place to provide the skills we will need in

the future.

Changing

perceptions

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities

Creating OpportunitiesWhy?We are well placed to use our relationships with businesses and educational bodies to

boost apprenticeship opportunities, in line with our Life Chances and Think Work priorities.

Commitment Key activities Date SRO Department

Work with businesses to

create more apprenticeship

opportunities, with the

stretching aim of 2.5k

apprenticeship starts per

annum

• Ensure Apprenticeships are included within the

Opportunity Bank; pilot with five local businesses

• Develop quality of the information to SMEs about the

business benefits of apprenticeships

• Implement a robust monitoring systems for

apprenticeship in the borough and in our supply chain

End

2022

Assistant

Director

Employment

Business and

Skills

Economic Growth

and Housing

Delivery

Ensure that apprenticeships

benefit some of the most

disadvantaged residents

• Work with partners to develop pre-apprenticeship and

support programmes for disadvantaged communities

• Promote English and Maths and ESOL programmes

Mid

2020

Head of Adult

Learning and

Skills

Economic Growth

and Housing

Delivery

We will use apprenticeships

as a key vehicle to reduce

in-work poverty

• Increase the number of higher level apprenticeships

on offer in line with employer needs

Sept

2019

Assistant

Director

Employment

Business and

Skills

Economic Growth

and Housing

Delivery

Changing

perceptions

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities

CASE STUDY: “Don’t give up on yourself, keep trying and power on”Back in 2011 Sarah Clarke dropped out of sixth form and found herself

unemployed but joining the apprenticeship scheme proved the right

choice for her and she is now deputy to the Electoral Services Manager,

helping make sure the borough’s residents can vote in local, regional,

national and European elections.

Sarah said “I was out of work and had really given up on myself when

someone at the Job Centre suggested I look at an apprenticeship. It

appealed to me as it still left me the option to go to university if I

wanted while giving me experience, a good qualification and monthly

pay.

So in April 2013 I started a Level Three Business Administration

apprenticeship in the Mayor’s Office at Waltham Forest Council. For the

next 15 months I spent one day a week at Leyton Mill in classes

organised by Waltham Forest Adult learning Services and four days a

week using those new skills to manage the Mayor’s diary, attend

meetings and help organise the school appeals meetings run by

democratic services.

I also helped out at the elections which took place and really

enjoyed that so when an Electoral Services Officer job was

advertised I applied and was delighted I got it. Looking back

taking that apprenticeship was the right move for me and

opened the door to a great career which I’m thoroughly

enjoying.

“My message to anyone who is feeling sixth form

isn’t right for them is to try the apprenticeship

route, it leaves your options open for you so don’t

give up on yourself, keep trying and power on

through as it will work out for the best.”

Changing

perceptions

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities

CASE STUDY: Powering the Borough of Culture

The Council recruited two new apprentices as soon as we

were awarded the title of London’s first ever Borough of

Culture by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Apprentices are at

the heart of our programme, helping us to develop rich and

exciting events that will wow London in 2019.

Through the Borough of Culture programme Waltham Forest

is creating a new Creative Education Partnership to support

pathways from primary school to 25 years+, with work

placements, apprenticeships and support for start-ups.

Our new Cultural Leadership Programme will develop

opportunities for fulfilling careers in cultural industries for

100 young participants, alongside the biggest volunteering

programme ever delivered in Waltham Forest.

Creative Works is an innovative apprenticeship scheme and talent

incubator in Waltham Forest. It offers free workspace to start-up and

early-stage creative businesses that agree to take on a young

apprentice. The idea is to help marginalised people aged 16-24 gain

valuable skills and training, fostering creative talent and guiding them

into future employment. Flint Digital a micro business have already

made use of the scheme to recruit two apprentice film makers.

Alexis Michaelides, Managing Director at Big Creative said:

“The journey began in 1999, when I first started teaching event

promotions to a small group of young people on a housing estate in

Waltham Forest. Nearly twenty years on and not only are we changing

lives through Big Creative Training and Academy, but we can now

extend our vision through the launch of Creative Works, a shared

workspace and community for the 21st century in the heart of East

London.

As the global flexible workspace industry grows, the community-

focused coworking movement is expanding with it. Creative Works’

vision enables it to benefit not just local people and businesses

looking for a place to work, but to enrich and support a much larger

community based outside of its own four walls.”

CASE STUDY: boosting our creative sector

CASE STUDY: developing talent for big businessEurostar, one of Waltham Forest’s largest employers recognises the value that apprenticeships offer in

developing the work force. Philip Stone is the fifth generation of his family to successfully work on the railways

but unlike previous generation Pip, as he is known at work, completed an apprenticeship with Eurostar back in

July 2008 on his 16th birthday – the earliest date he could begin.

Pip said:

“I come from a railway background with every generation going back to my great, great, great

grandfather having worked on the railways. My older brother did an apprenticeship at Eurostar and

he works at the same site as me at the Temple Mills depot in Orient Way, Leyton.

The apprenticeship is a good way to start your career. At the end of my apprenticeship in 2012 I was

employed as a Maintenance Engineer, being promoted the following year to be a Team Technician.

Two years later I was promoted again. Even now Eurostar continue supporting your learning and

development.

I have just completed my Masters degree and am waiting for the result on my dissertation and have

had support all the way from the company. Young people can resist the pressure to do a degree and

make a choice to do something they want to do, which they will enjoy and which will help them earn

money as well as get a qualification.”

Changing

perceptions

Leading by

example

Creating

opportunities