Freedom of information response

Apprentices Working in Local Authority

Publication date: 
Wednesday 3 January 2024
Request: 

1.    What apprenticeship qualifications and levels does your council offer to externally recruited apprentices and existing employees within your council or local authority maintained schools?
 
2.    For September 2021 – July 2022:
 
a.    What was the annual rate of pay for an: externally recruited apprentice working in the council, or a local authority maintained school?
b.    Did existing employees while doing an apprenticeship in the council or a local authority maintained school remain on the same pay as for their substantive post?
 
       I.   Yes
       II.  No
 
c.    What was the total number of apprentices that started as an:
 
1)    Externally recruited apprentice to do an apprenticeship scheme in:
 
I.    the council.
II.   a local authority maintained school.
 
2)    Existing employees that started an apprenticeship as part of their career progression in:
 
I.      the council.
II.    a local authority maintained school.
 
d.    What was the total number of apprenticeship starts broken down by age range:
 
I.    18-24
II.    25-34
III.    35-44
IV.    45-54
V.    55-64
 
e.    What was the total number of apprenticeship starts broken down by race, disability, gender identity and sexual orientation?
 
f.    Of the total number of starts, what number of apprentices completed, left and continued their apprenticeship scheme? 
 
g.    What number of externally recruited apprentices got a permanent job at the end of their apprenticeship?
 

3.    For September 2022 – July 2023:
 
a.    What was the annual rate of pay for an: externally recruited apprentice working in the council, or a local authority maintained school?
 
b.    Did existing employees while doing an apprenticeship in the council or a local authority maintained school remain on the same pay as for their substantive post?
 
I.    Yes
II.    No
 
c.    What was the total number of apprentices that started as an:
 
1)    Externally recruited apprentice to do an apprenticeship scheme in:
 
I.      the council.
II.    a local authority maintained school.
 
2)    Existing employees that started an apprenticeship as part of their career progression in:
 
I.      the council.
II.     a local authority maintained school.
 
d.    What was the total number of apprenticeship starts broken down by age range:
 
I.    18-24
II.    25-34
III.    35-44
IV.    45-54
V.    55-64
 
e.    What was the total number of apprenticeship starts broken down by race, disability, gender identity and sexual orientation?
 
f.    Of the total number of starts, what number of apprentices completed, left and continued their apprenticeship scheme? 
 
g.    What number of externally recruited apprentices got a permanent job at the end of their apprenticeship? 
 
4.    Does your council’s official pay scale points include an apprenticeship pay band?
 
I.    Yes
II.    No
 
5.    On what terms and conditions do you employ all apprentices? For example: National Joint Council (Green book), Scottish Joint Council, or other (please specify).

Response: 
  1. What apprenticeship qualifications and levels does your council offer to externally recruited apprentices and existing employees within your council or local authority maintained schools.

We offer different apprenticeships depending on the needs of the organisation so our offer changes all the time. I have listed below those apprenticeships that have been undertaken by new recruits or existing employees since April 2020.

L2 Arborist

L2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative

L2 Housing and property management assistant

L2 Large Good Vehicle Driver

L2 Sports turf operative

L3 Adult Care Lead Worker

L3 Assistant Accountant

L3 Build Services Eng and Maint Eng

L3 Business Admin

L3 Early Yrs Educator

L3 Housing and Property Management

L3 HR Support

L3 Information Communications Technician

L3 Outdoor Activity Instructor

L3 Paralegal

L3 Procurement and Supply Assistant

L3 Software Development Technician

L3 Supporting teaching and learning in schools

L3 Team Leader/Supervisor (ILM3)

L3 Youth Support Work

L4 Associate Project Manager

L4 Business Analyst

L4 Data Analyst

L4 Employability Practitioner

L4 Public Relations Assistant

L4 Regulatory Compliance Officer

L4 Town Planning Assistant

L5 Adult Care Manager

L5 Coaching

L5 Operations Manager

L6 Career Development Professional

L6 Chartered Manager

L6 Public Health Practitioner

L6 Social Worker

L6 Trading Standards Professional

L7 Accountancy

L7 Chartered Town Planner
  1. For September 2021 – July 2022:
  1. What was the annual rate of pay for an: externally recruited apprentice working in the council, or a local authority maintained school?

We pay National Minimum Wage appropriate to the age of the apprentice. (We do not pay the apprentice minimum wage.)

  1. Did existing employees while doing an apprenticeship in the council or a local authority maintained school remain on the same pay as for their substantive post?

Yes

  1. What was the total number of apprentices that started as an:

1) Externally recruited apprentice to do an apprenticeship scheme in:

  1. the council.  22
  2. a local authority maintained school.  0

2) Existing employees that started an apprenticeship as part of their career progression in:

I. the council.   9

II. a local authority maintained school.   0

  1. What was the total number of apprenticeship starts broken down by age range:
  1. 18-24        16 (I have also included the 16 and 17 year olds)
  2. 25-34        8         
  3. 35-44        1
  4. 45-54        5
  5. 55-64        1
  1. What was the total number of apprenticeship starts broken down by race, disability, gender identity and sexual orientation?

White - English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British

18

White - Any other White background

2

Asian - Any other Asian background

1

Black - African

6

Black - English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British

1

Black - Any other Black/African/Caribbean background

1

Mixed - White and Black Caribbean

1

Prefer not to say

1

Disability 17 – No, 2 – Yes, 12 - Prefer not to say

Gender identity 19 – Female, 12 – Male

Sexual Orientation  3 - LGBTQ+, 25 – Straight, 3 – Prefer not to say

  1. Of the total number of starts, what number of apprentices completed, left and continued their apprenticeship scheme?

16 – Still in training

9 – Complete

6 – Withdrew from apprenticeship

  1. What number of externally recruited apprentices got a permanent job at the end of their apprenticeship?

Of the 9 newly recruited apprentices that have completed 5 have gone on to be employed by Thurrock Council on either a fixed term or permanent contract.

  1. For September 2022 – July 2023:
  1. What was the annual rate of pay for an: externally recruited apprentice working in the council, or a local authority maintained school?

We pay National Minimum Wage appropriate to the age of the apprentice. (We do not pay the apprentice minimum wage.)

  1. Did existing employees while doing an apprenticeship in the council or a local authority maintained school remain on the same pay as for their substantive post?

Yes

  1. What was the total number of apprentices that started as an:

1) Externally recruited apprentice to do an apprenticeship scheme in:

I. the council.     14

II. a local authority maintained school.     0

2) Existing employees that started an apprenticeship as part of their career progression in:

I. the council.    12

II. a local authority maintained school.    0

  1. What was the total number of apprenticeship starts broken down by age range:
  1. 18-24          12 (I have also included the 16 and 17 year olds)
  2. 25-34         4
  3. 35-44         9
  4. 45-54         0
  5. 55-64         1
  1. What was the total number of apprenticeship starts broken down by race, disability, gender identity and sexual orientation?

White - English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British

20

Asian - Bangladeshi

1

Asian - Indian

1

Asian - Any other Asian background

1

Black - African

2

Black - English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British

1

Disability 12 – No, 2 – Yes, 12 - Prefer not to say

Gender identity 17 – Female, 9 – Male

Sexual Orientation  4 - LGBTQ+, 20 – Straight, 2 – Prefer not to say

  1. Of the total number of starts, what number of apprentices completed, left and continued their apprenticeship scheme?

25 – Still in training

1 – Withdrew from apprenticeship

  1. What number of externally recruited apprentices got a permanent job at the end of their apprenticeship?

No newly recruited apprentices have completed their apprenticeship (FYI apprenticeships must be a minimum of 1 year 8 days long)

  1. Does your council’s official pay scale points include an apprenticeship pay band?

No

  1. On what terms and conditions do you employ all apprentices? For example: National Joint Council (Green book), Scottish Joint Council, or other (please specify)

Apprentices join on the same local Terms and Conditions as all Thurrock employees.

Request reference:
FOI 13287