TARGETS to get more people into apprenticeships in Wiltshire are being missed because not enough firms are taking on people to learn skills on the job.

While the council took on 24 new recruits and are training 105 current employees, just 16 people have been taken on for an apprenticeship in schools last year.

Among the apprenticeships are two people who were raised through the care system, including one who got interview tips before applying and was successful in gaining a place.

Councillors discussed the support on offer for looked after children and said more should be done to increase the number taking up apprenticeships during the Children’s Select Committee meeting last Tuesday.

Plans have also been made to make sure contractors who carry out work on behalf of Wiltshire Council also offer apprenticeships to help people into work.

Speaking during the Children’s Health Select committee, chair Cllr Jon Hubbard said: “We do have influence with contractors who we are spending vast sums of money with. Why can’t something be written into their contracts stating they must take on some apprentices?”

Cllr Christopher Devine added: “We have a lot of service contracts out there where we have the whip hand and it should be policy of the council in these contracts that we can actually say we expect so any apprenticeships at a certain level.

“It will be quite interesting as we can put pressure on them if you like in a carrot and stick kind of way.”

Terrence Herbert, corporate director for children and education at Wiltshire Council said: “This is being done and work is going on to put this into contracts, this is now on the horizon. If you come back in six months there will be change.”

All public sector employers have been told to employ at least 2.3per cent of workers as apprentices. Due to the success of the council’s apprenticeship programme steps have recently been taken to appoint a temporary apprenticeship and training assistant to increase school apprenticeships. The council has staff taking apprenticeships in roles including accounting, management and business administration. The levy, which all large companies, including those in the public sector, must pay, creates £72,00 a month for Wiltshire Council to pay for the training of new apprentices.