Modern Apprentices and Workforce Planning Employability Programmes Update
North Ayrshire Council · 3 June 2025
Back to Cabinet — 3 June 2025 and its agenda
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 3 June 2025 Cabinet Title: Modern Apprentices and Workforce Planning Employability Programmes Update Purpose: To provide an update on the continuing Modern Apprentice and Workforce Planning Employability programmes and seek approval for the expansion of the Environmental Skills and Training Academy, providing paid work placements to support unemployed individuals’ progression to future sustainable employment. Recommendation: That Cabinet: a) Notes the existing delivery and the positive outcomes achieved and supports the continuation of these programmes; and b) Agrees the proposal for the expansion of the Environmental Skills & Training Academy as outlined at Appendix One. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 North Ayrshire Council, as a Community Wealth Building Council, Young Person’s Guarantee Employer, a Disability Confident Leader and a corporate parent, is committed to delivering inclusive employment pathways which also contribute to the future workforce planning approach. 1.2 A broad range of successful programmes are delivered by the Employability & Skills team in partnership with a range of Services in support of this ambition. The Modern Apprenticeship programme supports local young people to secure employment with North Ayrshire Council. The Skills for Life initiative supports parents from priority groups to access paid work experience and progress into sustainable employment with the Council. 1.3 The Environmental Skills & Training Academy Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) programme also offers paid work experience for unemployed people to access employment with the Council. Graduate Apprenticeships, delivered in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland, provide Council staff with opportunities to earn degrees while working. 1.4 These programmes reflect the Council’s commitment to tackling inequality, develop a skilled and diverse workforce, and embed the principles of inclusive growth and Community Wealth Building across all services. This report updates on progress and explores opportunities to create more opportunities to reduce unemployment and further contribute to workforce planning. 2. Background
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2.1 North Ayrshire Council is a Young Person’s Guarantee Employer, a corporate parent and a Disability Leader and a Community Wealth Building Council with a vision of a North Ayrshire that is fair for all. The Modern Apprenticeship programme provides a diverse range of opportunities, with ringfenced places for young people with a disability and or care experience, to join the workforce. 2.2 The Employability & Skills team, work in partnership across Services, to deliver a range of successful programmes designed to engage young people, parents, people with disabilities and long-term unemployed people to progress to a positive and sustained destination. These programmes provide residents with opportunities to join the workforce in North Ayrshire, an aspiration that often feels out of reach due to a lack of confidence and self-belief. By supporting those facing barriers to employment, these initiatives promote inclusive growth and create opportunities for disadvantaged individuals in the labour market. 2.3 The Council's current workforce consists of 7,608 employees (6,435 FTE) as of April 2025, with the following age profile: Age NAC Workforce Percentage 16 – 24 years old 4% 25 – 34 years old 19% 35 – 49 years old 37% 50 years old and over 40% 2.4 To ensure there is an equipped workforce for the future, the attraction and retention of young talented people is essential for continuity, innovation, and effective succession planning. This aligns with the recently refreshed Workforce Strategy 2024-2028. This considers workforce challenges including recruitment, retention, developing our young workforce, career development and wellbeing to ensure North Ayrshire Council remains an employer of choice. 2.5 The Council is celebrating 15 years of successful delivery of its Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme across Council services. This initiative aligns with the Council’s Apprenticeship Charter, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for young people in North Ayrshire, while serving as a vital component of the Council’s workforce planning strategy. The programme continues to operate as one of the largest Local Authority MA programmes in Scotland, delivering pathways to careers with North Ayrshire Council. 2.6 The MA Programme also aligns the Young Person’s Guarantee (YPG) commitment to prepare young people for the world of work, help all young people to achieve their potential, invest in a skilled workforce, create jobs and training opportunities and create an inclusive and fair workplace. The investment in the programme and the commitment to tackle youth unemployment is central to reducing youth unemployment and aligns to the Council’s strategic aims. It supports workforce planning within Services, whilst also creating future career pathways in specialist areas.
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2.7 The following Frameworks are used by Services from the extensive list of 70 options available: • Cookery • Early Years • Youthwork • Motor Vehicle Mechanics • Horticulture • Building Standards • Housing • Digital Applications • Payroll • Craft (Joinery/Electrical/Plumbing) • Health & Social Care • Business Administration • Civil Engineering • Regulatory Services • Customer Services 2.8 The Programme is delivered in partnership with a broad range of Services and teams. This includes the Health and Social Care Partnership, Education, Youth Services, Roads, Transport, Streetscene, Facilities Management, Human Resources, Housing, Protective Services, Communications, Building Services, Procurement, Property Management and Investment, Planning, Legal and Business Support. Through this, it has delivered several positive outcomes, including the following over last six years: Year MA Starts SVQs Achieved Jobs Secured Further / Higher Education Continuing MAs 2019/20 54 51 46 (40: NAC) 3 0 2020/21 45 42 38 (35: NAC) 3 0 2021/22 52 36 39 (26: NAC) 4 0 2022/23 36 25 23 (18: NAC) 6 4 2023/24 46 32 30 (26: NAC) 5 8 2024/25 37 Ongoing 5 (4: NAC) 0 36 TOTAL 270 193 181 (149: NAC) (82% job outcome rate) 21 48 2.9 The retention and progression outcomes are achieved through collaboration with Services, supervisors and the Employability & Skills Team supporting all aspects of delivery, achievements and progressions. 2.10 MA Recruitment has been aligned to school leaving dates however the age profile shows the main cohort are 16 to 19 years old when joining. To increase the availability of opportunities, and align with budgets, and also create employment pathways recruitment will take place twice annually in April and August from the current financial year. This will better support workforce planning, seasonal recruitment pathways and provide more opportunities throughout the year to join the Council’s workforce. A revenue budget equating to £0.813m in 2025/26, is available, providing a significant investment to support the apprenticeship programme. 2.11 A partnership with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has been established to deliver a Graduate Apprenticeship programme. This provides existing Council employees with the opportunity to earn, learn, and develop the skills needed for career advancement, strengthening the workforce for the future. In 2023, seven employees began a Business Management Degree, followed by eleven new recruits in 2024: three studying Early Years and eight studying Business and Project Management. This initiative will continue to cultivate future managers and makes a valuable contribution to workforce development. 2.12 The Employability & Skills Team receives Child Poverty Funding from the Scottish Government to support parents from priority family groups to increase their household
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income through employment. Income from employment is recognised as one of the three key drivers in eradicating poverty. The Skills for Life (SfL) programme helps parents develop the necessary skills for employment. Participants are matched to various roles within the Council, including facilities management, care at home, business administration, and classroom assistant positions. These roles offer flexible working hours, term-time opportunities, and vacancies that have been more challenging to fill. The Employability & Skills team provide intensive pre-employment and in work support to improve the retention and outcomes. 2.13 The Skills for Life programme has been delivered since 2018. Over the last two years the following outcomes have been achieved: Year SfL Starts Jobs Secured 2023/24 74 (21: NAC) 45 (16: NAC) 2024/25 61 (31: NAC) 36 (11: NAC) ongoing TOTAL 135 (NAC:52) 81 (27: NAC) (60% job outcomes to date*) * Eight parents still to complete the programme 2.14 The Environmental Skills & Training Academy Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) programme also offers paid work experience for unemployed people to access employment with the Council within the Streetscene team. Delivered over the last three years, it has achieved the following outcomes: Year ILM Starts Jobs Secured 2022/23 30 14 (11: NAC) 2023/24 21 18 (13: NAC) 2024/25 20 16 (10: NAC) ongoing TOTAL 71 48 (34: NAC) (68% job outcomes to date) 2.15 The Equal Programme supports people with disabilities to prepare and progress to employment by offering a wide range of opportunities to gain qualifications, experience and skills. Recently moving to Lochshore Park to establish a Disability Employment Hub this has created the opportunity to expand the garden and cycle maintenance initiatives. Trainees and volunteers work in the garden, growing produce which is distributed through food larders to communities and families while participants also gain horticulture qualifications. 2.16 The Equal Bike Maintenance project works with Waste Operations and refurbishes bikes which have been left at waste recycling centres as well as receiving donations. The bikes are refurbished and distributed to provide transport for people to get to work as well as leisure activities. Qualifications are also offered and a partnership with Active Travel and Cycle Scotland will see these bikes being available for use at Lochshore Park. These initiatives deliver significant positive environmental impacts while delivering employment outcomes for individuals. 2.17 A proposal has been developed in partnership with Neighbourhood Services to further develop the Environmental Skills & Training Academy Intermediate Labour Market programme. This would provide paid work experience opportunities for at least 60 unemployed individuals from across North Ayrshire in partnership with Streetscene, Waste Operations, the Equal Programme and Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company (CFRC) as a Third Sector partner. The proposal is summarised at Appendix One. 3. Proposals
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3.1 That Cabinet: a) Notes the existing delivery and the positive outcomes achieved and supports the continuation of these programmes; and b) Agrees the proposal for the expansion of the Environmental Skills & Training Academy as outlined at Appendix One. 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 The cost of the proposal will be met by existing Council earmarked funds. This will support paid work experience and training costs, supporting participants costs and the creation of these additional paid placements. This will deliver programmes to support unemployed people to progress to employment. Human Resources 4.2 This will be delivered using existing Employability & Skills delivery staff. Recruitment for the paid work experience will be progressed utilising existing processes. Legal 4.3 None Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 The proposal will deliver a two year programme to support local unemployed individuals to progress to employment across areas with substantial socio-economic challenges. Climate Change and Carbon 4.5 The Sustainable North Ayrshire Strategy has a vision of a sustainable, climate ready North Ayrshire that drives area-wide reductions in carbon emissions in a way which tackles inequality, promotes fair work, supports Community Wealth Building and contributes to achieving a wellbeing economy. This proposal aligns with this vision by providing additional resources while tackling inequalities and enhancing opportunities for people with disabilities to prepare and progress to sustainable employment. Key Priorities 4.6 The approach will contribute to achieving a wide range of the Council Plan outcomes and the ambitions: of an inclusive, growing and enterprising economy; for children and young people to have the best start in life; residents and communities enjoy good life- long health and well-being; and for a sustainable, vibrant, welcoming and attractive environment. This initiative will directly contribute to reducing child poverty through the creation of paid work experience as well as initiatives to support low-income families.
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Community Wealth Building 4.7 The proposal aligns with and contributes to the Community Wealth Building Strategy by providing fair work opportunities for unemployed individuals through partnership working between the Council and CFRC as a Third Sector Partner. It aims to build capacity and increase outcomes, which improve the environment and deliver a range of green jobs, which will prepare unemployed individuals to compete effectively for the green jobs of the future. 5 Consultation 5.1 The Employability & Skills programmes outlined in this report are delivered in partnership with a broad range of Council Services. The proposal outlined has been informed by engagement with key Services and partners and alongside feedback from service user evaluations from previous programmes has been used to design the key elements of this initiative. RUSSELL McCUTCHEON Executive Director (Place) For further information please contact Laura Neill, Senior Manager Employability & Skills, on 07795 528243. Background Papers 0
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Appendix One: Environmental Skills & Training Academy Expansion Proposal In 2025/26, Modern Apprenticeship and Graduate Apprentice programmes will continue, providing opportunities for young people to join the council through Modern Apprenticeships. Graduate Apprenticeships will develop Leaders of the Future creating opportunities for career pathways and aligning these initiatives to workforce planning. The Skills for Life Initiative will continue with ambitions to recruit a further 80 parents to join this programme in 2025/2026, this will continue to support parents to progress into employment, increasing household incomes and continuing to address child poverty levels across North Ayrshire. It is proposed that this offer be further enhanced through the expansion of the existing Environmental Skills & Training Academy to provide paid work experience opportunities for at least 60 unemployed individuals in partnership with Streetscene, Waste Operations, the Equal Programme and Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company (CFRC) as a Third Sector partner. Waste Operations has an ageing workforce and creating training opportunities in this sector will help with workforce planning. Activities in Waste Operations include kerbside bin collections, new bin deliveries, special uplifts and site attendant duties at Household Waste Recycling Centres. CFRC has launched a mattress initiative, and they collect mattresses from Waste Services, clean and re-distribute them thereby preventing landfill and offering a service to low-income families. The proposed Academy is based on a rolling programme of 26-week paid placements over the next 2 years. These placements will pay participants the Local Government Living Wage and offer a maximum of up to 35 hours per week. The hours will be informed by individuals’ circumstances. The main objectives of the proposal are to: • Create high quality vocational placements that will support long term unemployed participants progress into sustainable employment • Contribute to reducing levels of unemployment and child poverty • Provide participants with access to accredited qualifications to increase skills and future employment prospects • Deliver a range of environmental improvements and initiatives across North Ayrshire • Develop a pathway of skilled individuals to support the Council’s long-term workforce strategy • Create additional opportunities for people with disabilities supported by the Equal Programme and develop the horticulture and cycle maintenance initiatives • Support CFRC to divert waste and refurbish affordable furniture to be redistributed to low- income families • Demonstrate our commitment as a Community Wealth Building Council by fostering a supportive culture that promotes an inclusive economy, skills growth, and talent development. Through the additional investment of £0.8m in the Environmental Skills & Training Academy, a further 60 paid work experience opportunities will be created for unemployed individuals to gain skills, qualifications and experience to progress to employment within the Council or within the local labour market. A training fund will also support all participants to gain a qualification increasing their skills and prospects for sustainable employment.