CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE CROYDON’S APPRENTICES / CHANCELLOR ANNOUNCES “GROWTH ZONE” FOR CROYDON
CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE CROYDON’S APPRENTICES
Do you think you’re the best apprentice in Croydon?
Then why not enter the Croydon ‘best apprenticeship’ competition to be in with a chance of winning a lucrative prize.
Winners will be announced at the first ever Croydon Apprenticeships Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday 11th March at Fairfield Halls.
To enter the competition, apprentices must upload a five-minute video to YouTube explaining why their placement and employer offers the best experience.
The winning video should describe the employer and apprentice experience, include a skills demonstration and demonstrate the benefits to both the apprentice and employers.
Apprentices who wish to participate in the graduation ceremony or enter the competition must meet the following criteria:
1. Doing a Level 3 or 4 apprenticeship placement
2. Will complete the Level 3 or 4 in 2014 or before 28 February 2015.
3. Live and / or work in the borough of Croydon
Charlie Lawrence, who has been doing a 12-month apprenticeship at the council, said: “Having an apprenticeship has been really good for me because it has allowed me to earn money whilst also earning a qualification and experience in the work place.
“An apprenticeship graduation ceremony seems a great idea because it allows apprentices to be able to celebrate completing their apprenticeship and also raises the profile of apprentices.”
Cllr Toni Letts, cabinet member for economic development, said: “We’re committed to providing apprenticeships in Croydon and it’s fantastic we’re holding a ceremony to celebrate the success of our apprentices.
“Our Pathways to Employment programme is designed to get Croydon residents into jobs resulting from the major regeneration projects taking place in our borough, and part of this is a scheme to provide a route for employing apprentices.”
To enter the competition, upload the video and send the link to the address below. Please provide your name, apprenticeship and contact details. Competition closes at midnight on 31 January 2015
Prizes include:
1st prize – iPad & £200 high street vouchers
2nd prize – Google Nexus & £100 high street vouchers
3rd prize – iPod & £50 high street vouchers
To book your place at the ceremony and/or enter the competition email [email protected]
For more information please call 020 8760 5666 or 020 8667 8311. (Source: Croydon council press release.)
CHANCELLOR ANNOUNCES “GROWTH ZONE” FOR CROYDON
Croydon council say they are “delighted” that the Chancellor has given the green light for Croydon to become a “growth zone”, recognising the borough’s importance to London and the south east.
In his Autumn Statement, George Osborne announced the government would begin discussions on launching this in Croydon, to ensure that residents benefit from the borough’s growth.
In the lead-up to Mr Osborne’s statement, the council has been lobbying hard for the devolution of powers to control local tax revenues which would accelerate major regeneration projects in the borough.
“Our Time Is Now” proposes the creation of a “growth zone” which would see locally generated taxes rapidly bring forward the delivery of a £5.25bn regeneration programme, including 23,500 new jobs and 8,000 homes in the town centre by 2031.
It promises a development the size of Ebbsfleet but achievable in half the time.
Council leader Cllr Tony Newman said: “This is fantastic news for Croydon residents.
“We’re delighted the Chancellor has announced that the government will work with the council to create a growth zone in Croydon, which will bring huge benefits to our residents and transform Croydon into a modern, European city.
“For Croydon to be named in the autumn statement shows the huge importance of Croydon and the significance that it holds to London and the wider region.”
MPs Steve Reed (Labour, Croydon North) and Gavin Barwell (Conservative, Croydon Central) have shown cross-party support for Croydon’s devolution case, and both recognise how devolved powers could catalyse the transformation of Croydon.
The council is proposing to retain local tax revenues, such as stamp duty on all new developments, the new homes bonus and business rates, which would fund the necessary infrastructure needed for major developments in turn accelerating the timescale of such projects.
(Source: Croydon council press release.)
