York trio highlights city’s apprenticeships strength at regional awards

Clifton Green Primary School has won the small business category at the regional National Apprenticeship Awards.

The school, which has 11 apprentices out of a total of 80 staff, will go forward to the national finals in London on 27 November after being recognised for its work supporting apprentices.

Natasha Palmer, Minster FM’s Digital Content Producer, won the Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year category.

Alan Milner, a Digital Content Executive from LNER, who completed his apprenticeship at City of York Council, was highly commended for his work in championing apprentices.

Lisa Green, Business Manager at Clifton Green Primary School, said: We are thrilled to be recognised for our work with apprentices. Apprenticeships offer us as a school, the opportunity to find the best people for the role, to upskill existing members of staff and support our local community in to work. This recognition and the chance to travel to the national awards compliments our motto ‘Better Never Stops’.”

Cllr Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Development, City of York Council, said: “We have a really strong track record of creating high quality apprenticeships in York and I’m delighted that this has been reflected with local success in the regional awards. Apprenticeships can provide a stepping stone to a wide variety of different careers and are a great way for businesses to develop local talent in-house. 

“I’d like to wish our ‘York’ finalists the very best of luck in the national finals.”

Anyone wanting further information in recruiting apprentices or finding an apprenticeship in York should contact York Apprenticeship Hub on 01904 553732 or email york.apprenticeships@york.gov.uk

Continuing concerns over Chief Executives health in York

It is nearly 6 months since the Chief Executive of the City of York Council went on sick leave. The problem arose shortly after the May local elections and left the largely inexperienced new Council with inadequate senior management capacity.

The result was that there was a lack of direction during the summer period with the standard of several public services noticeably falling.

The Council drifted into several decisions, including a £20 million Guildhall redevelopment contract, without the rigorous reappraisal that a new administration, acting with the advantage of experienced advisors, might have chosen to approach differently.

The Council must now consider whether to continue with a temporary Chief Executive – a senior officer “acting up” – or whether to move to something more permanent.

Long service Chief officers in local government are entitled to 6 months sick leave on full pay followed by 6 months on half pay. So potentially if the Chief Executive continues to be absent there will be funding available in the budget to cover any backfill.

Not an easy decision and the health of employees must always be a paramount consideration.

But York taxpayers will now expect to see a roadmap published which shows a way back to having a full management team in place in the City.

There are simply too many decisions coming along (including the completion of the Community Stadium, the Guildhall, York Central, York Bypass improvements etc.) to allow a continued policy drift.

The York Council will consider the future of its Chief Executive post next week