Leeds businesses encouraged to find out more about taking on apprentices

Following the success of the Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair last month, Leeds City Council is looking to encourage more businesses in the city to offer apprenticeships.

The council is hosting an event titled ‘Apprenticeships: Working for Business’ to be held at the first direct arena on Thursday 19 March from 10am to 4pm. The event will run on a free drop-in basis and will offer businesses more information about apprenticeships and what they can bring to organisations of all types in Leeds.

Industry specialists, training providers and businesses already benefitting from taking of apprentices will be on hand to speak to visitors and answer questions about apprenticeships, including on the funding available to support the training element. There will also be information about the Apprenticeship Levy and how large companies are able to transfer some of their levy to support small and medium sized businesses.

Exhibitors taking part at this event will include: Leeds City College, Leeds College of Building, Leeds City Council, Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Trinity University, as well as a number of private training providers. Additionally, many exhibitors on hand at the event currently offer apprenticeships in a range of industries ranging from manufacturing and engineering through to digital and IT, and can share their experiences.

Organised by the council’s employment and skills team, the event is part of the council’s aim to support and grow the number of people starting apprenticeships across the city. This event builds on the success of the Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair, which has become the largest event of its kind in the north. This year’s event, held in February, saw over 6,000 people attend and more than 100 organisations represented.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for learning, skills and employment, said:

“Over recent years, we have seen the Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair grow to be the largest of its kind in the north. We are committed to enabling the people of Leeds to access apprenticeship opportunities, and to supporting businesses to take on their first apprentice or to grow their existing apprenticeship programme. We are therefore thrilled to now be hosting this event which is the first of its kind in the city.

“We believe that those businesses attending will have a real opportunity to learn about how apprentices can work for their business. I would encourage any businesses whether large or small which may be considering offering apprenticeships to drop in at any time during the event and find out more.”

‘Apprenticeships: Working for Business’ is free to attend and open to all businesses in the city. To find out more and/or register your interest in the event, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/apprenticeships-working-for-business-tickets-85641569239.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Josh Cawood

Graduate communications and marketing assistant

josh.cawood@leeds.gov.uk

0113 378 6007