CUMBRIA County Council has announced its latest apprentice recruitment drive with 8 new and exciting apprenticeships now being advertised on their website.

The latest apprenticeship opportunities are available in early years education, customer services and business administration, with some roles based in the county council’s Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and Emergency Planning and Resilience Unit.

The county council is committed to apprenticeships and has recruited 133 new starters in the last 2 years. Since the last recruitment drive in February, the council’s apprenticeship team have been working hard to recruit 40 new apprentices, and when the coronavirus outbreak struck in March it meant having to adapt recruitment processes and rethink how to continue to offer opportunities.

Margaret Watson, apprenticeship and school development manager, said: “We will always do our very best for our apprentices and we are working hard to continue to recruit new lifeblood during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Activities that would have previously taken place face to face are being shifted online. People who are interested in apprenticeships can apply for as many opportunities as they like and if they are successfully shortlisted they will progress to an online interview.

“Our latest opportunities are not to be missed.”

Councillor Sue Sanderson, cabinet member for schools and learning, said: “Despite the pandemic, it’s a great time to join the county council and I’m pleased we’re continuing with our fantastic apprenticeship programme.

“Our apprenticeship team would normally be out across the county promoting opportunities but unfortunately this isn’t possible at the moment, so they have strived to provide alternative arrangements whilst already supporting hundreds of our existing apprentices.

“Last year, we were recognised as the best apprentice employer in the North West for our efforts to recruit and support apprentices across a wide range of professions and despite the challenges that coronavirus has brought us, I’m pleased to say our high standards are continuing.

“Apprenticeships offer a fantastic opportunity for people to earn while they learn, and the overwhelming majority of our apprentices go on to secure permanent employment with the council or move on to further training. I hope people across Cumbria will consider applying.”