Hampshire County Council Apprentices ‘Rise to the Top’ with Exclusive Insider Experience
Apprentices at Hampshire County Council have been given a rare glimpse behind the scenes of running a £2 billion public service. During National Apprenticeship Week, they shadowed councillors and senior managers to see what it takes to lead the giant council.
Shadowing the Bigwigs
The highlight saw apprentices Katie Marke, Shannon Nicholls, and Ashley Murphy spend an afternoon with Councillor Peter Edgar, the County Council’s Executive Member for Education. Councillor Edgar raved about the experience:
“I really enjoyed working alongside our apprentices. They are a credit to this organisation. Opportunities like this offer invaluable insight – apprentices learn what being a councillor involves, and I get to see how our trainees benefit from their apprenticeship.”
“We’ve pledged 1,000 youth employment opportunities by 2018, including 850 apprenticeships, as part of our Youth Investment Programme. It’s fantastic to hear first-hand experiences from our young colleagues.”
“It was rewarding showing Katie, Shannon, and Ashley the tough decisions we face at the Council. I hope they’ve gained a valuable big-picture view.”
First-Hand Experience on the Frontline
Katie Marke said: “It was amazing to see exactly what Councillor Edgar does. Watching real decisions being made was thrilling! He’s a very busy man, so we were grateful for his support.”
Meanwhile, apprentice Zoe Hughes got a taste of senior management life by shadowing Richard White, Head of the Council’s Integrated Business Centre, which oversees HR, IT, and 1 services. Zoe shared her excitement:
“I found it fascinating to see senior managers’ daily routines. I met so many knowledgeable and supportive people who really back apprenticeships.”
Apprentices in Action: Brathay Challenge and Beyond
A team of nine Hampshire apprentices is currently competing in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge. This nationwide contest puts youngsters through a series of work-related challenges to build skills and promote apprenticeships to businesses and youth.
As part of the challenge, they’re now launching a major voluntary project involving fundraising and a garden renovation. The goal? To engage and inspire young people classified as NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training).
Hampshire County Council’s apprenticeship scheme is clearly helping young talent rise to the top – one shadowing day, challenge and community project at a time.
