Students Showcase Careers in Public Sector
23 July 2007
Students at Solihull College are celebrating as they become the first Apprentices to complete a ground-breaking programme designed to raise awareness of careers in public sector occupations.
The Business Administration Apprentices were selected for the module from a range of public service organisations, including Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Go Skills Sector Skills Council and Solihull College to enhance the skills and experience gained on the Business Apprenticeship programme they began in September 2005.
To celebrate their achievements and highlight their new insights into public service, the group of seven young people gave thought-provoking presentations to a VIP audience including His Worshipful the Mayor of the Borough of Solihull Coun John Reeve.
Subjects covered in their talks included the regeneration of Birmingham and Solihull, diversity awareness and careers in the public sector.
The presentations mark the final stage of an Apprenticeship in Public Service Administration - a key component of the two-year business administration programme at Solihull College, delivered in partnership with West Midlands Police, Birmingham and Solihull local authorities and Birmingham Race Action Partnership.
The new certificate forms part of a drive by the Learning and Skills Council-led Public Service Compact – an alliance of employers working collaboratively to address the key issues of recruitment, retention and staff development.
Apprentice Gemma Ruff, aged 19, from Castle Bromwich, said: “I didn’t know much about careers in the public sector when I first started the programme.
“But working in the fostering and adoption team at Solihull Council has really opened my eyes to how important and rewarding the career can be.
“With that experience and everything we’ve learnt about the sector at college, I feel I’m really proving myself and doors are opening for me.”
Programme leader Jeanette Patrick said: “The students are a credit to their employers. They have engaged enthusiastically in activities and discussions to broaden their knowledge of the aims and objectives of the public sector.
“With the expert help of guest speakers and a determination to succeed, they have managed to deliver excellent presentations which have truly projected their understanding of the role of the public sector and the ethos which makes it such an appealing career.”
Mickey Burke, Public Service Compact manager for West Midlands Learning and Skills Council, said: “There are real challenges ahead to diversify the public sector workforce so that employers are recruiting from a wider base in terms of age, ability and ethnicity.
“This group of Apprentices are exactly the sort of bright, young people the public sector needs to attract and retain and I am delighted that they have all benefited from this introductory insight into the wide range of rewarding career options on offer.”
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