If you’re not familiar with the Work Wiltshire website, where have you been for the last couple of years?

It’s a one-stop shop for education, employment, training and apprenticeship information. More than 24,000 people have visited the website since it was created two years ago!

Apprenticeship support is particularly popular, with almost 3,500-page views between June 2018 June 2019. The page provides information on what they are, how to become one and what vacancies there are currently. For businesses, the Work Wiltshire website has a section to support businesses in hiring an apprentices, giving guidance and funding information.

In Wiltshire, 78.9% of people are employed and the average earning for a Wiltshire resident is £29,424 gross per annum – higher than the average in the south west. If you need support finding a job, you can visit the Jobs and Careers section, which has information on careers advice, starting your own business, volunteering, childcare and much more, including local labour market information highlighting where people are working, industries, growth sectors.

In 2018, 96% of Key Stage 4 learners carried on to some form of education, employment or training, but if they are unsure of their next steps, young people too can visit the Work Wiltshire website. The Young People’s Next Steps and Further & Higher Education sections can help guide young people to make the best decision for their future, with plenty of information, links and resources, there is even a Parent Information section to help inform them of their child’s choices through life and support that is on offer.

Pauline Church, cabinet member for education and skills, said: “We’re delighted that so many people have benefitted from the advice given on the Work Wiltshire website. The statistics speak for themselves and the success we’ve had in the last two years is brilliant. We put a lot of time and resource into apprenticeships and employment in general in Wiltshire and will continue to do so. I would urge anyone looking for career advice to visit the site to benefit from the advice and guidance on offer.”

The employment and skills team at Wiltshire Council work closely with businesses in Wiltshire. Through its Be Involved initiative, 49 local businesses have pledged to support the employability of our young people and inspire the future workforce, as well as assisting local projects such as the Enterprise Adviser Network and Building Bridges.

To find out more visit the Work Wiltshire news page.