The training route to town hall career

And as part of the forthcoming National Apprenticeship Week two at the authority tell of why it was the best path to employment for them.

Katie Darbyshire proves that it is not only a route for school-leavers, having embarked on a new career through an apprenticeship aged 24. She gained one with the town hall’s customer services team and enrolled onto a level 2 business administration. Katie successfully completed this and she is now part way through a BTEC Level 3 diploma in business administration.

Katie, who is now 26 and has secured a new role in the department, said: “The diploma really helps with my new role as the units I have selected to cover I can relate them to my daily work and expand on my skills even more.

“Completing my apprenticeship has boosted my confidence and taught me so many transferable skills that I am able to use to help continually improve the service I deliver at work. I have received a lot of support from my managers, tutors and other team members who are also completing NVQs within my team.

“I would highly recommend an apprenticeship as it is a perfect opportunity for young people to learn and to have a great, exciting career.”

Aged just 17, Morgan Leigh has a job she loves and a bright future ahead of her.

She left college after just eight weeks having realised it wasn’t for her and she needed to look at other options.

Morgan secured an apprenticeship with Wigan Council in health and social care based at Central Day Centre for adults with high complex care needs and has never looked back.

She said: “I learned so much in the year my apprenticeship lasted undertaking different types of courses and completing a Level 2 Diploma in health and social care. My confidence grew immensely but even though I enjoyed every minute of my apprenticeship I decided I wanted a change in career and decided I wanted to do something more office based.”

Morgan applied for and was successful in an apprenticeship in the council’s customer service department and is now completing my Level 3 diploma in business administration.

She said: “I am excited to see what opportunities this may open for me like a full time job representing the council and developing even more on my own knowledge and confidence. I would recommend an apprenticeship with Wigan Council to anybody and feel as if I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my career.”

Anyone interested in a Wigan Council apprenticeship can call 01942 489177, email [email protected] or visit www.wiganworks.com