Businesses are being asked for their views on how to boost the number of apprenticeships across the district.

Promoting and creating apprenticeships is a key priority for Malvern Hills District Council and is seen as essential to helping address the skills shortage facing local employers.

The council currently offers grant funding to support businesses to recruit apprentices, promotes success stories, works with schools and businesses and runs awareness campaigns.

However, despite these efforts the number of people taking an apprenticeship has fallen in the last five years. A special Task and Finish Group, made up of councillors and officers, has now been set-up to look at what more can be done to increase participation in apprenticeships.

Cllr Daniel Walton, Chair of the Apprenticeships Task and Finish Group, said: “Apprenticeships are a great alternative to university. They allow you to earn money while gaining a qualification and on the job experience and can benefit those wishing to upskill during their career. While businesses are increasingly turning to apprenticeships to fill skills shortages, the number of people participating in them is falling.

“There are a number of reasons for this and we’re keen to hear the public’s views,  particularly those of businesses, anyone currently taking an apprenticeship or those who may have considered one and rejected it, to help us identify what more we could be doing.”

People are encouraged to share their views and experiences by completing the survey available at www.malvernhills.gov.uk/business-support-and-jobs. The deadline for responses is 28 January 2020.