The reason why the Council is withdrawing form the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme is because the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has changed its funding arrangements for the scheme. They will no longer fund the payment of weekly allowances to trainees. They have also introduced other changes in funding arrangements.

All this means that the Council would need to find an additional £80,000 per annum (growth item) to ensure the continuation of the scheme, in addition to the current contribution of £72,000 provided. This makes a total budget contribution of £152,000.

If the Council fund this, it will put more pressure on front line services to find savings.

The Scheme takes on 10 new trainees per year, recruited from Slough. This accounts for approximately 0.5% of the current staffing levels (excluding school based staff). Also every effort would be made to restrict advertising for entry level jobs to local papers in order to encourage local people to take up positions in the Council.