There are so many reasons to do an apprenticeship, from learning new skills, earning while you learn, and gaining new qualifications. The next round of apprenticeship recruitment at the council will be open from this April, so you can start to find out more now – and get ready to apply.

An apprenticeship offers you opportunity to build the foundations of your career, giving you the skills, experience and training to help start your journey into work.

Apprenticeships with the council

Ealing Council offers a high-quality apprenticeship programme that combines work experience, training and a competitive London Living Wage salary, across multiple career pathways from business administration, to horticulture and events.

More than 250 young people have gone through the council’s apprenticeship scheme since it started in 2007.

Each apprentice works within a council team as well as studying for vocational qualifications. Some have then gone into full-time jobs with the council. The scheme involves a one-year training agreement with opportunities to progress to higher apprenticeship levels, and an allowance starting from £210 per week.

After you have successfully completed your apprenticeship not only will you have gained valuable workplace experience and qualifications which will help improve your chances of finding work either within the council or with another employer. You will also have networked across the council and have the opportunity to apply for internal jobs.

Shahnaz’s story

Shahnaz started at the council in 2011 as an apprentice surveyor in the building control team. She has since progressed to working as a trainee in her team and is about to complete her degree in surveying. Before beginning her apprenticeship, she was working fulltime as an administrator, for a small business.

“After my contract came to an end, while I was job searching, I came across this apprenticeship at Ealing,” she said. “At first I was attracted to the role because it mentioned training and qualifications.  After finishing college I didn’t go on to university or do any further study, so I thought that if by doing an apprenticeship I could get this, I thought ‘why not?’

“What I have enjoyed most about my apprenticeship is that there is so much variety, you don’t just do just one thing, you are working with different people across multiple departments. I feel very lucky I’ve got to experience this variety, as it has really enhanced my skill-set. I am quite a shy person and my apprenticeship has pushed me to come out of my out shell, and build my confidence.

“The great thing about the Ealing apprenticeship scheme is there is lots of opportunity in terms of progression. Ealing is very much focused on your own personal development, and are supportive and encouraging, you really feel as though they want you to do as well as you can, and are willing go that bit further to help you achieve this.

“While working and studying can seem overwhelming at first, once you start you soon find that you are learning, your confidence is growing, it is then you begin to understand that this is not really a short-term job, you’re building a career, and its going to stay with you for a lifetime. For me, whether I want to continue here at the council, or eventually go on somewhere else, the experience, qualifications, and skill set that the scheme provides you with is invaluable.”

Shahnaz is now in her final year of her degree, and after this she hopes to continue at the council and progress to an assistant building control surveyor role.

Can you apply?

Anyone living in Ealing, over 16 years of age, not in full-time education and have the right to work in the UK can apply for an apprenticeship, whether you are just leaving school, have been working for years, or are seeking to start a new career; there is no upper age limit. Applications are open from 1 April and close on 7 May there is plenty more information available on the council’s website, you can also sign up to our mailing list to receive apprenticeship vacancy updates.

More info

• Call 020 8825 6234
• Email apprenticeships@ealing.gov.uk
• Sign up to the apprenticeships mailing list
• Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/apprenticeships