You’re hired! – 50 Council apprenticeships a year to kick-start thriving careers

A NEW scheme will create 50 apprenticeships a year at Tameside Council to support residents into thriving careers.

To establish real opportunities to learn and earn, the scheme will make the most of a partnership between the borough’s schools and colleges and the Council’s Cared for Children and Leaving Care services and its Employment and Skills service.

The initiative will offer structured, high-quality training with a ‘Tameside resident first’ approach that unlocks new pathways for local talent. It will help break down barriers to sustainable employment, especially for care-experienced individuals and disadvantaged young people.

It’s a shift in how the Council recruits, develops and supports apprentices across the organisation to strengthen services and create a younger, future-ready workforce.

Part of the scheme is a collaboration with Tameside College for which the Council is a key ambassador for the College’s Train Tameside 500 initiative.

Tameside Council Executive Leader Cllr Eleanor Wills said: “This is about creating pathways into employment for our residents – giving them the opportunity to learn, earn and build confidence, skills and a career. It will also strengthen our services and create a resilient, representative and future-ready workforce.

“This is a powerful opportunity to grow our own talent from within our communities and build the capabilities we need in line with our priorities, expectations, standards and culture.”

The first cohort will start in September 2026. The apprentices will benefit from enhanced support, including development opportunities, peer-to-peer learning and networking, access to inspirational role models and senior leaders, and enhanced wellbeing and pastoral care.

Apprenticeships offer a powerful mechanism to attract and grow younger talent and upskill our local community, supporting local economic regeneration and social mobility. More than just jobs, they provide structured, supported pathways into meaningful careers, helping transform lives, families and futures across Tameside.

The approach supports the Council’s Corporate Plan aim of creating a place where people can achieve their hopes and ambitions.