Local Outcome 2: Improving outcomes for young people through Council’s early careers programme

Since the early careers programme was first launched in 2013, the Council has provided work based training and vocational opportunities to over 100 young people in East Dunbartonshire.

Unfortunately, disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the recruitment of modern apprentices and graduate apprentices in 2020, however, the Council relaunched the popular and award-winning Modern Apprenticeship and Grad+ Programmes in June 2021.

This provided opportunities for 21 local young people in a variety of services including, Business, HR, IT, Procurement and Finance, Streetscene, Roads and Civils, Youth Work, Early Years, Construction Management and HGV Mechanics.

• 7 Graduates:
  • 2 Business and Digital Change
  • 1 HR
  • 1 Information Management
  • 1 ICT Infrastructure
  • 1 Procurement
  • 1 Finance and Accounts
    
    
• 14 Modern apprentices:   
  • 3 Streetscene Environmental
  • 2 Business Admin
  • 2 Roads and Civils
  • 1 Youthwork
  • 4 Early Years
  • 1 HGV Mechanic
  • 1 Construction Management

The new recruits started their careers with the Council in August and brought the number of young people who have participated in these programmes since 2013 to almost 150.

Depute Chief Executive, Ann Davie, said, “As we began to recover from the impact of the pandemic we were eager to reintroduce our early careers programme.  Not only to provide young people in East Dunbartonshire with job opportunities but also as it has become a vital part of our work force planning. Since the introduction of the Modern Apprenticeship and Grad + programmes we have found our existing Council Teams have benefitted greatly from the fresh ideas and energy the young people bring to their roles.

Rebecca, a former Lenzie Academy pupil, joined the Grad+ Programme at the end of 2019 after graduating from the University of Stirling with a BA Hons in Business Studies. She is now employed as a Business Advisor for Business Gateway in East Dunbartonshire.

She said, "I applied for the Business and Digital Change Graduate position as it tied in with everything I had studied at University. Leaving university and being not sure on what path to take can be a really daunting experience and this programme gave me the skills and confidence to pursue what I wanted to do. I'd encourage others in the same position to seriously consider the Grad+ Programme. I have found my dream job and I love it."

Construction Management Apprentice, Aidan, from Bishopbriggs, completed his apprenticeship in 2019 and is now working within the Council's Major Assets Team. He is also a member of the Council's Apprentice Ambassador Programme, set up in August 2019, to encourage other young people in East Dunbartonshire schools to consider Apprenticeships as a next step.

He said, "When I saw what was on offer through the apprenticeship and what my career prospects could look like after completing it, I knew it was what I wanted to do. I attended college as part of my apprenticeship and obtained an HNC in Construction Management and an SQV in Built Environment.

"I shadowed Project Managers on developments like the new Early Years Centre in Milngavie and got lots of experience. This helped with me win Apprentice of the Year at the 2020 APSE awards and Young Employee of the Year in the 2020 EDC STAR awards. My advice to anyone thinking of applying for a place on the Modern Apprenticeship Programme is to go for it. You won't regret it."