Agenda item

Council notes that this Council is increasing the number of apprenticeships offered within the organisation and that a number of apprenticeships have been started in recent months or are scheduled to start shortly and this is to be warmly welcomed.

However, council further notes with concern that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the employment prospects of young people have been very negative.  Youth charity, Impetus point out:

•     That in June 2020 twice as many young people are now claiming unemployment benefits compared to March 2020, with 13% of the youth labour force now claiming benefits.

•     That this summer, a further 500,000 young people will leave education and try to enter the labour market.

•     Young people are 2.5 times as likely to work in shut-down sectors, accounting for 30% of all 18-24 year olds. This has meant that one-third of 18-24 year olds – excluding students – have either lost their jobs or been furloughed. That’s double the rate of prime age adults.

•      9% of non-full-time students have lost their main job since COVID-19 hit – three times higher than the average figure.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

•    Create additional new 2-year Level 3 apprenticeships directed at the 18-25 year old age range.  These apprenticeships to be additional to those already planned by the council and agrees to provide £100,000 from GRA reserves and £100,000 from HRA reserves to fund these additional apprenticeship roles.

•     Use the commitment to apprenticeships for young people that these additional apprenticeships demonstrate to engage with the wider business community in West Lancashire to encourage greater provision of apprenticeships for young people in West Lancashire during 2020/21.

"Council notes that this Council is increasing the number of apprenticeships offered within the organisation and that a number of apprenticeships have been started in recent months or are scheduled to start shortly and this is to be warmly welcomed.

However, council further notes with concern that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the employment prospects of young people have been very negative.  Youth charity, Impetus point out:

•     That in June 2020 twice as many young people are now claiming unemployment benefits compared to March 2020, with 13% of the youth labour force now claiming benefits.

•     That this summer, a further 500,000 young people will leave education and try to enter the labour market.

•     Young people are 2.5 times as likely to work in shut-down sectors, accounting for 30% of all 18-24 year olds. This has meant that one-third of 18-24 year olds – excluding students – have either lost their jobs or been furloughed. That’s double the rate of prime age adults.

•      9% of non-full-time students have lost their main job since COVID-19 hit – three times higher than the average figure.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

•    Create additional new 2-year Level 3 apprenticeships directed at the 18-25 year old age range.  These apprenticeships to be additional to those already planned by the council and agrees to provide £100,000 from GRA reserves and £100,000 from HRA reserves to fund these additional apprenticeship roles.

•     Use the commitment to apprenticeships for young people that these additional apprenticeships demonstrate to engage with the wider business community in West Lancashire to encourage greater provision of apprenticeships for young people in West Lancashire during 2020/21."

An Amendment to the Motion, circulated prior to the meeting, was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken on the Amendment, which was CARRIED and became the Substantive Motion.

A vote was taken on the Substantive Motion, which was CARRIED.

RESOLVED:   A.   That it be noted that this Council is increasing the number of apprenticeships offered within the organisation and that a number of apprenticeships have been started in recent months or are scheduled to start shortly and this is to be warmly welcomed.  That this Labour run council has a strong record of action when it comes to creating opportunities within the council and working with employers large and small across the borough and education providers, including West Lancashire College and that this action has resulted in the creation of 33 meaningful apprenticeships within the Council (25 new starts since 1 April 2017) and this doesn't include those apprenticeships created through our contractor partners in housing services. 

                          B.   That it be noted with concern that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the employment prospects of young people have been very negative.  Youth charity, Impetus point out:

·         That in June 2020 twice as many young people are now claiming unemployment benefits compared to March 2020, with 13% of the youth labour force now claiming benefits.

·         That this summer, a further 500,000 young people will leave education and try to enter the labour market.

·         Young people are 2.5 times as likely to work in shut-down sectors, accounting for 30% of all 18-24 year olds. This has meant that one-third of 18-24 year olds – excluding students – have either lost their jobs or been furloughed. That’s double the rate of prime age adults.

·         9% of non-full-time students have lost their main job since COVID-19 hit – three times higher than the average figure. 

C.   That this council welcomes the announcement by the Chancellor on 8 July that HM Treasury will provide £2 billion under the Kickstart Scheme specifically targeted to support the creation of opportunities for those seeking work, in particular for those in the 16-25 year old age group. As the Kickstart Scheme is based on Labour’s successful Future Jobs Fund, it should help many young people to access work.   At this time no detail has been given on how the scheme(s) will work particularly within local authorities. There is also the uncertainty of Council's financial position due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of proper funding from central government.

D.   That this council resolves to: 

1)    Use the commitment from Government to provide support for those seeking work, including the creation of apprenticeships for young people, to continue to engage in providing meaningful apprenticeship schemes in the council in a prudent and financially sustainable manner. 

2)    Continue to work with the wider business community in West Lancashire to encourage greater provision of apprenticeships. 

3)    Write to the Chancellor, The Right Hon Rishi Sunak MP and Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, The Hon Michelle Keegan MP calling on the Government to provide funding in support of apprenticeship schemes beyond 2021.

4)    Bring a report back to the October 2020 Council meeting on a plan to if possible recruit more apprentices taking into account our financial position and having fully received and understood the government's new policies/directives on apprenticeships.