Apprenticeships at the council

Our apprenticeships offer routes into career development through a mix of on-the-job training and classroom learning. They are a good way to build skills and gain a recognised qualification.

An apprenticeship is an actual paid job where you do your job while learning the skills for the role. There are many options on how this can be provided to meet both the employer and apprentice’s needs.

You can start an apprenticeship at any point in your working life. Essex County Council apprenticeships are available to all colleagues.

There are 15 apprenticeship routes that cover hundreds of careers. Subjects include:

• administration, management or accountancy
• social care
• green or environmental
• digital or creative design

Explore the organisational maps on the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s website to find out what’s available and progression routes.

If you wish to undertake an apprenticeship at Essex County Council and need some advice or guidance, contact apprenticeshipqueries@essex.gov.uk.

Essex County Council apprenticeships:

• offer the opportunity to learn new knowledge, skills and behaviours
• can be taken by all council employees (including newly recruited and existing employees) regardless of their age or qualifications providing their council employment contract is long enough for them to complete their apprenticeship
• range from Level 2 (GCSE level) to Level 7 (Masters Level)
• are funded by the Apprenticeship Levy
• are run by council-approved training providers
• last for a minimum of a year
• must involve at least 6 hours learning a week in work time. This might be at college, in a virtual classroom, doing practical work or carrying out research depending on the apprenticeship
• include an end point assessment
• offer a strong foundation to develop

To become an apprentice, you must:

• be in a job role that supports your chosen apprenticeship programme
• have Maths and English at GCSE (or a functional skills qualification at Level 2) - ACL offer support with these
• be committed to completing all elements of their apprenticeship programme
• have the support of your line manager and service
• sign an apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement

Our apprenticeship employment standards (PDF, 135KB) explain expectations for apprentices, line managers and the council related to apprenticeships. 

Schools apprenticeships

Essex County Council has an Apprenticeship Levy pot for schools. To find out more visit the Essex Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service website or email ecctrainingforschools@essex.gov.uk.