Council to hire more young staff members

Less than five per cent of employees at East Riding Council are under 25, and nearly half (49.8 per cent) are 45 or older.

Research in 2008 also showed most young people living in the area do not see the authority as a potential or attractive employer.

To combat this, the council's Cabinet will consider a report on Tuesday which recommends developing and promoting apprenticeships.

Report author Steve Button, the council's director of policy, partnerships and improvement, said in its executive summary: "The council's workforce information shows that there is a shortage of younger workers at the council and in the workforce strategy it is recognised that there is a need to have appropriate route ways into employment, especially for young people.

"Failure to address the age profile of the workforce will have significant repercussions in the future delivery of services."

The proposed strategy seeks to ensure managers at the council are aware of the importance of apprenticeships, that appropriate posts are identified, and that the right support and training is in place.

Nationally, the number of apprenticeships in the UK is intended to reach 500,000 by 2020, up from 256,000 in 2005.

Over the next 10 years it is hoped one in five of all young people will take on an apprenticeship, up from the current rate of one in 15.

Chief executive Nigel Pearson said: "Apprenticeships provide young people with a clear path to a career and the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. We must do all we can to provide quality routes into employment so that we can ensure we have a highly skilled and motivated workforce for the future."