Plymouth City Council apprentices will battle it out for a second year

Plymouth City Council has entered the Brathay Apprentice Challenge for the second year running in the hope to be crowned ‘apprentice team of the year’ 2014.

Last year the Council’s apprentices won the regional heats and took their place at the national finals where they finished in fifth place.

The Council also got named Large Employer of the Year at the regional heats of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2013 and is listed as one of the top 100 apprenticeship employers in the UK.

Ken Holder Apprenticeships Coordinator said: “We are extremely excited to be supporting this challenge for a second year. Last year’s success has really spurred us on and 2014 will see us coming back stronger with a new team, supported by some of last year’s team.

“It’s a great, fun way to spread the apprenticeships message and the value that young people can bring to an organisation and we are really looking forward to the challenges which lay ahead over the coming months.”

Now in its third year, the Brathay Apprentice Challenge tests apprentices on their team building, leadership, logistical and communications abilities in a series of challenges including awareness raising and community projects.

The eight finalist teams will be announced at the House of Commons in April and will take part in further awareness raising and fundraising activities. Battling it out to be crowned ‘apprentice team of the year’ the teams will make a trip to Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters to complete the logistical and team building adventure finale. The overall winner will be announced on 11 June.

Godfrey Owen, Chief Executive of organisers, Brathay Trust, said: “The tasks that the teams complete as part of the challenge allow the apprentices to develop a huge range of skills. These are skills that are not only useful within the challenge but essential for the workplace. It is good to see so many companies including Plymouth City Council engaging their apprentices in such a Challenge.”

The challenge focuses on offering an enhanced Apprenticeship, developing skills like team building, leadership and communications – many of which are found in the top positions within business.

Karen Woodward, from the National Apprenticeship Service said: “We are pleased to welcome Plymouth City Council into this year’s Brathay Apprentice Challenge. The activities that the apprentices undertake in the challenge are part of an enhanced Apprenticeship which benefits both employers and apprentices; employers gain a workforce with transferable skills throughout the business while apprentices themselves become more employable and more likely to be promoted.”

Follow the team’s progress on Twitter @pccapprentices and Facebook www.facebook.com/Plymouthcitycouncil. You can also keep up to dayte with their blog which can be accessed on the Council's website at www.plymouth.gov.uk/socialmedia.