KCC launches ‘Made In Kent’ campaign

Hope is to double number of apprentices

The leader of Kent County Council (KCC), Paul Carter CBE, has used National Apprenticeship Week (6 to 10 March) to launch a major new campaign to encourage employers to double the number of apprentices in the county.

Speaking to business leaders at a ‘Made in Kent’ launch event held at the Shepherd Neame Brewery in Faversham, Paul Carter called on Kent’s employers to make the most of the significant changes being introduced on the 6 April 2017 to the government’s apprenticeship programme.

He also offered businesses KCC’s assistance as they consider the implications and opportunities of the changes, announcing a new Advice Service for all Kent employers, to be delivered in partnership with leading apprenticeship training provider MiddletonMurray.

‘The Made in Kent campaign is KCC’s way of celebrating the success of apprentices across the County and promoting the considerable benefits they bring to employers large and small,’ he said. ‘For the first time businesses can commission their own training, hire apprentices of any age, up skill their existing workforce and access training funding all through the apprenticeship programme. These changes make the scheme even more compelling than before, and on that basis, our ambition is to double the number of apprentices in Kent by 2019/20.

‘I believe that the expanded apprenticeship programme is a fantastic opportunity for all Kent businesses and employees. It will facilitate considerable new investment in staff training and development, and do much to reduce the skills gap many businesses regularly report.

‘KCC is committed to doing all we can to ensure that as many apprentices as possible continue to be ‘Made in Kent’ and that the maximum amount of training funds available through the Apprenticeship Levy is spent in Kent, for the benefit of local businesses and people.’

Angela Middleton, CEO of MiddletonMurray, said: ‘No business should look at the Apprenticeship Levy as ‘just another tax’. The money paid remains yours to use, and from our experience all businesses can benefit from the wide range of high quality, work relevant apprenticeship training opportunities now available.’

Two apprentices spoke about their experiences at the event. Dover based Christopher North, a Business Administration Apprentice at The Research Network, said: ‘Becoming an apprentice offered me a great way to learn and earn. I didn’t want to go to uni, but being an apprentice means I can still get qualifications and a good job, without the student debt.’

Ellen-Paige Habbershaw, an apprentice at Patrick Carnell Contractors in Dover, said: ‘I am very proud to be ‘Made in Kent’. I hope all employers give others opportunities like the one I have had, as my apprenticeship has started me on a brilliant career path.’

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