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Sefton celebrates its workforce for National Apprenticeship Week

3 February 2023
John McCabe
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Sefton Council is celebrating its apprentices to mark National Apprenticeship Week (6-12 Feb), highlighting the variety of opportunities available with the local authority.  

New apprentices meet Sefton councillors in Bootle Town Hall
New apprentices pictured with Sefton Councillors and staff, including Council Leader, Cllr Ian Maher (bottom right)

Taking the form of a series of interviews with apprentices, Sefton’s celebration comes hot on the heels of a recent meet and greet event between new apprentices and local councillors. 

The regular meet and greets  are a chance for councillors to welcome apprentices to the council while gaining invaluable insight into what each apprenticeship entails.  

The theme for National Apprenticeship Week is #SkillsforLife – a chance for employers to promote apprenticeships and how they prepare the workforce for the roles of the future.  

Lead by Sefton’s Apprenticeship team, the celebration will be joined by the council’s Community Learning Service to promote vital functional skills, such as Maths, English and ICT – a Level 2 qualification (equivalent to GCSE C/4) will mean progress to higher level apprenticeships and in your career path. 

National Apprenticeship Week also represents a chance for the Council to celebrate its own apprentices online and on social media.  

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said: 

“It’s never too early or too late to accelerate your career and enhance your skills.  Whether it is something that is on your mind or not, I encourage you to use National Apprenticeship Week to consider your future and what you want it to look like. 

“At Sefton Council we promote learning and development, and have a fantastic Apprenticeship team who can support you to find qualifications to fit the many vocational areas. There’s no greater endorsement than that of apprentices themselves so please take the time to read their stories and be inspired by their journeys. 

“We regularly recruit new apprentices as a way to join Sefton Council and learn on the job, so keep your eyes peeled for any apprenticeship opportunities and other vacancies on offer.” 

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Cabinet Member for Skills and Regeneration said: 

“It’s heartening to see apprentices progress with Sefton Council, and in many cases find permanent roles within the organisation. It’s heartening because it shows we’re truly a learning organisation, with a workforce ready to help us adapt to future challenges, and it also shows we’re an organisation where staff feel valued in an environment where they can push on in their chosen career path.  

“I hear from apprentices on a regular basis, but it’s still satisfying to use National Apprenticeship Week as a time to hear their stories and reflect on their journeys with Sefton. If anyone within Sefton Council or not yet with us, you should consider an apprenticeship as a great opportunity to be at the cutting edge in your field and to move up in your career.” 

To be alerted to apprenticeship or other employment opportunities with Sefton Council, check out the vacancies at our Jobs Go Public website  

Visit Sefton Council’s Apprenticeship Service dedicated webpage to learn more about the support they offer, or check out our Community Learning Service webpages to learn more about functional skills and other courses on offer.  

Digital, creative and tech businesses urged to sign up for first Sefton Huddle

3 February 2023
Martin Driver
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News

Digital, Creative and Tech Businesses are being invited to the first ‘Sefton Huddle’, at Southport and Birkdale Sports Club on Thursday 23rd February.

Net Zero event at Formby Hall, hosted in partnership by InvestSefton and Liverpool John Moores University.
Net Zero event at Formby Hall, hosted in partnership by InvestSefton and Liverpool John Moores University.

When InvestSefton consulted local businesses in the Digital, Creative and Tech sector last year on what support they wanted to see, a networking group was one of the most popular suggestions.

Facilitated networking group

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Cabinet Member for Skills and Regeneration said: “Our InvestSefton Team wanted to find out the best way they could provide support for Digital, Creative and Tech companies in the Borough and they told us they wanted a facilitated networking group with topics chosen and led by the group’s members.

“This first ‘Sefton Huddle’, later this month is a result of the feedback received.”

Lasting from 10.30am until 1pm the first Sefton Huddle will include opportunities for networking. There will also be an InvestSefton-led discussion which includes an update on Southport’s Enterprise Arcade, the new £1.5 million hub for digital businesses and entrepreneurs, which recently secured planning approval.

To book a place, people should call Dom or Sharon on 0151 934 3452 or email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk.

Business support

InvestSefton is Sefton Council’s enterprise, business support and inward investment service.  It offers free information and advice and access to a wide range of services and is there to help any business, of any size, in any sector.

People wanting to find out more about how the InvestSefton can help support their business, can visit www.investsefton.com or contact the team on 0151 934 3452 or investsefton@sefton.gov.uk.

High-calibre

The InvestSefton team was recently praised for Economic Forum and Growth Hub Marketplace event which was attended by over 120 business delegates. With its high-calibre speakers, the Economic Forum attracts a large crowd of business delegates who enjoy the ‘food-for-thought presentations’.

Feedback from impressed Forum attendees saw the most recent event described as ‘informative’ and ‘interesting’, praised the guest speakers and highlighted how well Sefton helps its businesses.

First of a series

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Cabinet Member for Skills and Regeneration said: “February’s is the first of a series of Sefton Huddles with further events scheduled for Thursdays 8th June and 2nd November 2023 and 1st February next year.

“Our InvestSefton events are popular so I would advise anyone interested on coming along to this relaxed and informal session to sign up now.”

Find out more about Invest Sefton here.

Get a free health check and COVID-19 jab in Sefton this weekend – Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th February

1 February 2023
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Grab a Jab graphicThe ‘Living Well’ bus will be making two stops in Sefton this weekend to offer residents all COVID-19 vaccines, including first, second, booster and seasonal (autumn booster) and free health checks.

No booking required

The bus will be parked at the following locations from 10:30am-4pm, with no booking required:

  • Saturday 4 February – Lidl car park, 290 Marsh Lane, Bootle, L20 5BQ
  • Sunday 5 February – Southport Theatre and Convention Centre, The Promenade, Southport PR9 0DZ

Grab a Jab graphicResidents can get up to date with any COVID-19 vaccines they may have missed, including first, second or booster doses and the seasonal (autumn booster), before the booster programme ends on Sunday 12 February.

Free holistic health checks will also be available for residents aged 18 and over, if time and capacity allows, which include a pulse check and blood pressure check, cholesterol and blood glucose check and a BMI check.

Offer coming to an end

Jan Leonard, primary care lead for Sefton at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: “With the COVID-19 booster offer coming to an end on Sunday 12 February, this is a great opportunity for people to get either their first COVID-19 booster dose or the autumn (seasonal) booster if eligible.

“The ‘Living Well’ bus service, which is led by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is designed to bring health services to people in a way that is convenient for them.

“We are proud to be supporting the service, which has helped enable a range of people to get protected with their COVID-19 vaccines and health checks this winter, including successful recent visits to Peel Ports, the Maritime Centre and Change Grow Live, our local alcohol and drug support service.”

You can find out more about the COVID-19 vaccine, who is eligible, and to book an appointment online or find other walk-in vaccination sites on the NHS website here.

 

From Crosby to the Costa Del Sol! Runners prepare to take on 300th beach challenge

1 February 2023
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Green Sefton, Health, Latest News

One of Sefton’s coastal park run groups will cross the finish line for the 300th time this coming weekend.

Hundreds of people have taken part in the Crosby parkrun each Saturday morning for the last eight years.

Overcoming high winds, icy temperatures, scorching sunshine and the occasional blister, they have run the equivalent of the north to south length of western Europe.

Managed entirely by volunteers, the running group would have accomplished much earlier had they not been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Created in partnership between Active Sefton and Parkrun UK back in 2015, people from around the world, including global football stars, have taken to the makeshift course on Crosby’s stunning coastline across the last eight years.

More than a thousand miles have been covered during that time, the equivalent of running from Crosby to the Costa Del Sol!

The success is in no small part down to the work of Crosby parkrun co-director Jan Mullin and Amy Barnes, Sefton Council’s Active Sefton Development Manager.

Jan, who runs the weekly event with co-director Gareth O’Hanlon, said: “Our running community relies on volunteers, from teenagers to retirees, who all get on as a fabulous team week in week out.

“It is an absolute pleasure to be part of this fabulous team turning up every week and working in all weathers.

“Parkrun has had appositive impact on so many lives, improving health and wellbeing for runners and volunteers alike.

“We have faced challenges such as Covid and we continue to face obstacles – some small and some large – but overall, we are a community to be proud of.”

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, heaped praise on organisers, along with a team of volunteers who brave all weathers to ensure the run still goes ahead.

He said: “Amy and Jan have worked incredibly hard together from start to finish and we are delighted that the event has reached this impressive milestone.

“Jan and her loyal team of volunteers have committed themselves every week to provide a hugely welcoming community for everyone to take part, whether they are walking or running.

“We have seen people from all corners of the world take part in the Crosby parkrun, which is one of the Parkrun community’s few official coastal based runs.

“The statistics are staggering and it is a testament to Jan’s team that they have welcomed hundreds of different running clubs, had nearly 40,000 impressive finish line results and even local celebrity and Sefton resident Jamie Carragher takes part regularly!”

/Ends

Discover the 3 ‘Local Favourite’ parks in Sefton

1 February 2023
Amy Hitchmough
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News, Local Consultation

Three Sefton parks were voted as a “Local Favourite” in the Fields in Trust’s UK’s Favourite Parks 2022 award.

Fields in Trust, an independent charity with over 90 years’ experience protecting parks and green spaces, each year invites the public to nominate their favourite local park.

Botanic Gardens, Derby Park and Rimrose Valley Country Park, were all nominated and voted by the public as a “Local Favourite”.

Mark Shaw from Green Sefton hands Field In Trust Award certificate to community group member on a bridge in Botanic Gardens, Southport
Botanic Gardens, Southport
Rimrose Valley Country Park
Derby Park, Bootle

Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Local parks have acted as a refuge for so many of us over the past few years and it is wonderful to celebrate the spaces in Sefton that gave us so much in our time of need.

“The award recognises the network of dedicated volunteers and community groups, working alongside our Green Sefton team, who put so much effort into maintaining these spaces to such a high standard for everyone to enjoy.”

Sefton Council’s Green Sefton service are calling for local park users and visitors to have their say in the ongoing Botanic Gardens public consultation.

Working in partnership with the Botanic Gardens Community Association and others, the public consultation is part of ongoing works to develop the future of Southport’s historic Botanic Gardens.

The Council took the decision to explore the development of external funding bids for significant improvement works at the park. This public consultation will help ensure that bid includes local people’s views.

If successful, the funding could support the restoration of many of the park’s Victorian buildings, much-needed repairs to infrastructure and help the Council to fulfil improvement works, including development of new attractions.

People can have their say by completing the online survey: http://oakhamwarp.dinksurveys.com/Sefton_Botanic_Garden

The consultation is open until late Spring 2023.

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