CHESHIRE East Council has taken on dozens of new apprentices over the past year – but it is keen to recruit even more.

At a staffing committee meeting on Thursday, it was revealed that 79 people began apprenticeships at the council or its arms-length companies in 2017-18.

That figure fell below the council’s target of 96 apprentices, which would help it meet the requirement set by central Government in April 2017.

But CEC did fill 88 per cent of its apprenticeship vacancies – which is higher than the national average of 66 per cent for local authorities.

“It has really been quite a positive result compared to the national average,” said Sara Barker, head of strategic HR.

For more information about the council’s apprenticeship scheme click here.