Name:
Vickie Lowton
Company:
Learning Development Officer – Lancashire County Council
Which type of Apprenticeships do you offer?
Lancashire County Council currently offer over 70 apprenticeship programmes across levels 2 to 7. These cover a wider range for roles, including; Social care, Business administration, HR, Leadership & management, Teaching assistant, Engineering & Construction, IT, Finance, Legal, Business Improvement and Procurement. As new apprenticeships are developed we also look to identify how these can support the development of our workforce, through the recruitment of new apprentices and also upskilling of existing staff. We work with 10 training providers within Lancashire, to deliver our apprenticeships.
Why did you choose to hire an apprentice?
Lancashire County Council have supported apprentices of many years in the development of skills and obtaining of recognised industry qualification. My role is to support schools across Lancashire with apprenticeships, they offer vacancies for apprenticeships across the county, mostly in the roles of Teaching assistant, IT and Business administration but also other opportunities.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone thinking about becoming or hiring an apprentice?
Apprenticeships enables individuals to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours in the environment, gaining work experience alongside mandatory industry qualifications and standards. This can provide excellent entry opportunities to a career and also can support them in the development throughout their career.
Please tell us a positive story regarding apprenticeships that you can share?
I have 5 years’ experience of delivering apprenticeships as a Trainer/Assessor, prior to working at Lancashire County Council. I started working for LCC in February 2018, supporting and advising schools in apprenticeships. There have been some big changes to apprenticeships in 2017, and I have busted a lot of myths and travelled across the county to offer individualised support and speak at school meetings. To support my development I have also enrolled to undertake a Charted Manager Degree Apprenticeship. I hope to improve my skills and develop and improve the service I can offer to the schools of Lancashire.