As part of National Apprenticeship Week Southampton City Council is celebrating the huge difference that our apprentices make every day.

Our Emerging Talent team are putting apprenticeships at the heart of the council. Helping individuals learn, develop and grow helps the council to acquire new skills and strengths as well as retain valued, skilled employees.

In the last 12 months, we have championed apprenticeships, by:

• Increasing the number of employees in the apprenticeship programme to over 200
• More than doubling the number of apprenticeship starters in the current financial year, from 43 to 87
• Transferring over £226,000 from the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy to 38 local businesses, which means they can create further apprenticeship opportunities in the city.

One of our success stories is Pawel Maculewicz, who joined the council in 2021 to study for his Level 6 Architectural Assistant apprenticeship. Pawel, who is based in the Design Services team said:

“I always wanted to be an architect, but college proved challenging. My college teacher saw the potential in my designs and told me about apprenticeships as a pathway into work. I was excited to apprentice at Southampton City Council which enabled me to explore my creative side during university and practical architecture at work.

“It proved to be quite challenging sometimes, but it taught me how to overcome challenges and made me more confident. Being an apprentice has been and is an amazing adventure. It has given me both the knowledge and the freedom to explore new possibilities and gain experience, setting me up for the future. Although planting the tree may be challenging, I believe that, with the apprenticeship, there will not be a sweeter fruit to harvest in the future.”

Building on his success, Pawel is currently studying for his Level 7 Architect Apprenticeship as his career develops. Pawel’s manager, Kate Bond, said:

“Having an apprentice brings fresh energy and practical benefits to the team. They contribute to workload capacity while introducing new technologies, software skills, and ideas from the university that keep our practice current. Apprentices also help build a future talent pipeline and allow senior staff to focus on more complex tasks, improving overall efficiency.”

Councillor Sarah Bogle, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Growth and Skills explained the benefits of apprenticeships to the city, the council and its employees:

“To see the way that apprenticeships at Southampton City Council have developed makes me feel extremely proud. Whilst learning new skills and gaining qualifications, the apprentices grow as individuals, building on their knowledge and experience. At the same time, the council benefits through motivated and upskilled employees who continually deliver for the city.

Championing apprenticeships is an integral part of our new Growth and Prosperity Plan for ensuring local people benefit from economic growth. As more local businesses take advantage of apprenticeships through initiatives like the Apprenticeship Levy and Transfer to Transform, our local economy thrives with more people with much needed skillsets that businesses can tap into.”