Published: Friday, 8th March 2019
The council is celebrating the success of its apprenticeship scheme this week, with two of its apprentices winning awards at the College of West Anglia's awards evening.
Alex Bird won the College of West Anglia's Leisure Apprentice of the Year Award. Alex is based at Alive Lynnsport and is a joint employee of the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk and Alive Leisure.
Eliza Zientalek is a Council Information Centre adviser at the borough council. Eliza picked up the College of West Anglia's Customer Service Apprentice of the Year award. She is studying for a Level 2 in customer services and has said that the course is really helping her to build her confidence.
The council has run a successful apprenticeship scheme since 2013 and currently has 21 employees undertaking qualifications through apprenticeships.
Cllr Brian Long, Leader of the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, said: "Apprentices form a valuable part of our workforce. They are keen to learn while they earn, and we get the benefit of well-trained and highly-motivated staff. Since our scheme launched in 2013, we have seen many of our apprentices go on to achieve success with us or with other organisations and its really rewarding to know that we played a role in helping them to develop their career."
Suzie Daniels, Admin and Enquiry Assistant in Care and Repair completed her Level 2 Business Administration Apprenticeship in January this year. She really enjoyed learning again although she thought she would be too old to learn new things. Her daughter told her “you aren’t too old mum, but nicely matured like a fine wine or a matured cheese”.
Alex Brown, Estates Apprentice is studying for a Level 6 in Chartered Surveying and is enjoying his time developing his communication skills and confidence. He finds the apprenticeship rewarding and would definitely recommend the apprenticeship route over that of gaining a degree through a university course because at the end of his apprenticeship he will have gained valuable work experience as well as a degree.
Chris Bamfield, Executive Director, Commercial Services, at the Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk explained: "An apprenticeship benefits the employee and the employer. Alex is learning valuable work skills and will gain a solid qualification, he is also a valuable member of the team."
To find out more about employment in the West Norfolk visit workinginwestnorfolk.co.uk.