A Merseyside creative production house is encouraging other SME’s to take on young people after welcoming two apprentices to its team.
Andrew Mills, managing director of Mills Media has offered immediate positions to a junior production apprentice and administration apprentice through Wirral Council’s Apprenticeship Programme, The Wirral Apprentice.
“We have taken on the apprentices to help create a sustainable business and retain skilled and loyal employees. Wirral Council financially supports each apprentice for the first year as we invest time into their development and understanding of our business. I would firmly encourage other companies across the Wirral to look at this initiative as a great way of nurturing new talent and enhancing their workforce.”
Andy Mills (no relation), aged 22 from Prenton, joins the production team as a creative and media apprentice He aims to enhance his technical skills at Mills Media whilst completing his studies at Liverpool Community College in Creative and Digital Media.
Amanda Davies, aged 19 from Wallasey, is working as an administration apprentice. She spends one day a week at Wirral Metropolitan College to enhance her theory based skills studying Business and Administration.
Andrew Mills said: “Mills Media is a busy, vibrant and fun place to work, and I put that down to the staff and the working environment we provide. The new apprentices will add stability to our workforce and their enthusiasm will be shared by the team and passed on to our clients.”
The Wirral Apprentice was launched in September 2009 by Wirral Council to help the Borough’s SMEs grow whilst giving young people the opportunity to gain a real job. The apprentices undertake training in their chosen field which is funded via The National Apprenticeship Service and the programme has been recognised as a model of good practice.
Cllr Phil Davies, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning Strategy said: “Since its launch in 2009, we have funded over 300 apprentice places within local businesses, the majority of them small and medium sized, which amounts to an investment of over £4million. Wirral Council is determined during these difficult economic conditions not to sit by and allow a generation of talented youngsters to go to waste because there isn’t the opportunity to gain skills and real work experience.
“Through The Wirral Apprentice companies like Mills Media have been able to offer those opportunities to our young people at minimal cost to their business. The programme has been extremely successful as our companies have grown and developed and our young people have set out on the road to becoming the employers of the future.”
