SKDC to create more apprentices

More apprenticeships are to be created at South Kesteven District Council.

The move follows a council quarterly performance report showing SKDC is not meeting a target of hosting 14 apprenticeships. The council had 12.

However, last Thursday’s cabinet meeting heard from deputy leader Kelham Cooke this was because SKDC had given two apprentices permanent jobs within the council.

Coun Cooke, who recently gained responsibility for staffing matters at the council, told the meeting: “I will be working with HR to create more apprenticeships, really high quality ones.”

He added he would also meet with Grantham Labour councillor Tracey Foreman about SKDC offering ‘supported internships.’

After the meeting Coun Cooke told the Journal the higher quality apprenticeships would not just involve one department, but see participants spend several months in each of several departments to “see where they are interested in having a career with us.”

The ‘supported internships’ were aimed at people with learning difficulties.

Cabinet member Coun Helen Goral said the moves were “designed to support social mobility.”

The quarterly performance report, prepared for cabinet, also showed SKDC was ‘on track’ to meet its targets concerning council tax, non-domestic rates and rates collected, the processing of planning applications, the occupancy of town centre retail units, the number of vacant business properties and the number of food standards achieving satisfactory or higher standards.