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embargo: 10:00 Wednesday 13 July Newcastle City Council first local authority employer in country to receive Quality Award for Apprenticeship ProvisionAs part of unionlearn's region-wide Apprenticeship event today (Wednesday 12 July) at Durham County Cricket Club, Newcastle City Council will become the first local authority employer in the country to receive the unionlearn Quality Award* for supporting apprentices. The unionlearn Quality Award is awarded to programmes, courses and organisations that meet specific good practice criteria and who are working successfully and flexibly with unions for the benefit of workers. Newcastle City Council are one of the first employers to be awarded the quality kitemark in the UK and the only one to receive it for Apprenticeship provision. The city council has 124 blue and white collar apprentices, from 16-year-old school leavers to 50 years plus full-time employees. Occupations include child care and adult social care workers, IT workers, accountants, administrators, electricians, gas service engineers, road workers, paviours, construction and engineering technicians, plumbers and classroom assistants. The award will be presented to Kenny More, Head of Training (Apprenticeships), Caroline Miller, Head of Adult Learning, and Councillor Joyce McCarty on behalf of the Council The event 'Apprenticeships - Unions working for a brighter future' is focussed around encouraging unions and employers to work together to both support and increase the number and quality of apprenticeships for workers in the region, and will be attended by a mix of almost 100 union reps and employers to share best practice and get up-to-date information on Apprenticeships* and the benefits for individuals and employers. Leader of Newcastle Council, Councillor Nick Forbes, said: 'I am delighted and honoured that the council is to receive such a prestigious award from the TUC. To be the first council in the country to receive this is something we can be proud of. 'Apprenticeships are vital because they equip people with the skills and training to do important jobs that contribute to the life blood of our communities and the economy. 'For young people especially they can be the first rung on the career ladder, and in the current climate of high youth unemployment that's especially valuable, and something we intend to build on.' Kevin Rowan, unionlearn Regional Manager said: 'Good apprenticeships are an extremely valuable and practical way for employers to offer quality training and progression for both new and existing workers. "Newcastle City Council's commitment to this agenda and their partnership approach with the trade unions has been evident from the outset and reaffirmed time and again throughout the stringent Quality Award assessment process. 'The award is well-deserved and it is fantastic to have them on-board as an exemplar employer, not only regionally, but nationally. I hope many more employers follow their impressive lead.' NOTES TO EDITORS: The city council has three apprentices who are available to be interviewed by the media; Gemma Hadden, 25, a vehicle mechanic; Terry Maddison, 25, and Zubair Khan, 20, both plumbers. - Northern TUC press releases www.tuc.org.uk/northern national releases www.tuc.org.uk and www.twitter.com/tucnews - Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet - For TUC advice and information on the world of work www.workSMART.org.uk Media contacts: Susanne Nichol, unionlearn Marketing and Communications T: 0191 227 5553 M: 07771873108 E: snichol@tuc.org.uk Andrew McKegney, Newcastle City Council Press Office Manager T: 0191 2115099 E: andrew.mckegney@newcastle.gov.uk Press release (600 words) issued 2 Aug 2011  Higher Learning at Work with Anglia Ruskin Quality Awards for Cornwall College and Truro and Penwith All Shipshape at Babcock Marine learning centre |
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