1. London Borough of Bexley
Apprenticeship Programme
Since 1991 The London Borough of Bexley have helped over 250 young people bridge the gap between
education and employment. Placements have been offered across every Directorate in Bexley and
currently we offer apprenticeships in 4 vocational areas:
• Business Administration
• Customer Service
• ICT
• Childcare Learning and Development
Bexley’s vision for the future is to extend these 4 areas to include Accountancy, Building Control,
Environmental Health, Youth Work, Health & Social Care and Horticulture.
A fully recognised apprenticeship programme means individuals spend 4 days per week in a work-
based placement and attend college one day per week gaining the underpinning knowledge to achieve
a vocational qualification in the chosen area.
Our programme is well structured; learners are placed in fully supervised roles where they will perform
live work experience in a variety of areas. Our placement coordinator provides on-going support to
each apprentice. A mentoring/buddy scheme was introduced at the beginning of 2009 to ease learners
through the transition of education to employment.
However, we are not complacent and we are always happy to further develop our local scheme using
valuable feedback from our apprentices and placement managers.
The scheme has senior level commitment across the organisation to ensure that it works well, not only
for us as an organisation, but in fulfilling the needs of our young people in Bexley. Thank you for
considering the London Borough of Bexley as a possible placement opportunity.
About the London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley is a high performing authority that has consistently achieved the top
rating on the Comprehensive Performance Assessment. The Council’s successes have also been
recognised by numerous awards and accreditations. These include seven Beacon Council awards for
excellence and innovation in a range of service areas, four Charter Mark awards for excellence in public
service and a number of ISO accreditations for standards in quality management systems. We are
proud of the achievements of the London Borough of Bexley and hope that you will want to be part of
our success.
Bexley is an outer London borough which borders Greenwich to the west, the county of Kent to the east
and Bromley to the south. Covering an area of 61 square kilometres, it has a diverse population of
223,300. Bexley consists of a number of neighbourhood areas such as Belvedere, Thamesmead, Erith,
Sidcup, Bexleyheath and Bexley. Within its boundaries are award-winning parks and open spaces,
historic houses and attractive waterways. The River Thames runs along the Borough boundary for five
miles to the north and we are a core part of the Thames Gateway.
We have some of the most affordable housing in London, good schools and diverse neighbourhoods
ranging from the urban to the rural. Bexleyheath is one of south London’s most successful and lively
town centres and we have a number of smaller thriving centres. We have easy access to the facilities of
central London, to major shopping centres at Bluewater and Lakeside and to the beauty of rural Kent, as
well as the international rail terminals at Ebbsfleet and Ashford, the Channel Ports and Tunnel.
Bexley is a borough of sharp contrasts which makes it an exciting and rewarding place to work. For
example,
n 80% of our residents are home owners but a significant minority remain in need of affordable,
rented accommodation.
n Our average house price of £238,000 is close to the average of England and Wales, but well
below the London-wide average of £317,000.
n Until the recent economic downturn, our economy thrived and was characterised by low
unemployment. However, fewer residents are employed in professional and managerial occupations
than the national average.
n We are ideally located for national and international travel, but remain one of the few London
boroughs without a tube or light rail transport link.
Bexley is a high performing borough. For the first time in 2009, the Audit Commission teamed up with
other inspectorates to present an overall picture of public services in Bexley. The new ‘Comprehensive

2. Area Assessment’ differs from previous assessment regimes in focussing on how Bexley’s public
services are working together to make a real difference to improving the lives of local people.
Bexley was awarded a 'green flag' for its major achievements and innovation in working with local
communities to increase recycling - the only Borough in London to receive an award in this category.
The Inspectorates were particularly impressed with the Council's exceptional track record in getting
people to recycle, especially those who find it difficult to do so and need help. This includes working with
around 2,500 elderly and disabled residents to find a way of recycling that works for them and helping
people who do not use English as their first language.
In addition to the Area Assessment, the Council was also assessed by the Audit Commission on their
‘use of resources’ and ‘managing performance’. The Council was judged as an organisation that is
'performing well', and was awarded a score of 3 out of 4 for both areas. Many of its services were also
recognised as being among the best 25% for London and still improving.
What kind of projects can we offer?
Below are a few examples of the projects covered by our apprentices during their placements with
Bexley
Leah Saunders – Level 3 apprentice in business administration
The idea of learning whilst earning appealed to me and since joining Resources
plus I have been working with the Jobnet Project, which is helping the
unemployed people for 9 months or longer and live within the 5 Boroughs that we
work with. These are Bexley, Lewisham, Havering, Redbridge and Barking and
Dagenham. At the beginning of this year, we had a new project come on board
called Community Gold, this helps the 12 months or more unemployed to get help,
support and training to help them get back into work. My roles have included all forms of
communication, administration, ICT and some basic accounting figures. “I hope to do well, it’s a great
opportunity which I feel I am lucky to have been given and I see this as just the beginning.”
Josh Harris – Level 2 apprentice in ICT
Joining the apprenticeship scheme has been a challenging and rewarding
experience for me so far. I have learnt many new office skills and developed key
communication skills that are vital for working in a big company. My placement in the
Web team has allowed me to use my knowledge of IT systems to help improve our
Internet and Intranet systems to provide a better service to the public and the
employees of the Council. My supervisor has shown a lot of confidence in me and
has handed over major projects from top members of the Council for me to take
charge off such as the Chief Executive's blog and a Members portal for the
Councillors, which have given me a chance to show what I am capable of. These projects turned out to
be a great success, albeit stressful at times, but the support from my colleagues and supervisor helped
me to achieve what needed to be done.
Luke Redpath – Level 2 apprentice in Customer Service
When I saw this work based learning scheme, I knew it would be ideal for me because
it was a customer services placement. Being naturally bubbly and people-friendly a
placement in one of Bexley libraries suited me perfectly.
Since being on the scheme I have received some very valuable training - Computer
Literacy and Information Technology training which led to a formal qualification. This
helped me to improve my knowledge of computers and IT. Disability Awareness
training - this allowed me to see how actions and words can be misconstrued as
discriminating, it also allowed me to get some idea of what it is like to live with a
disability which I found very useful.
Charlotte Moriarty – Level 2 apprentice in Customer Service
I am very much enjoying combining learning whilst earning and this scheme is opening
my eyes as to what the working world is like. I feel lucky to have been given the
opportunity of working towards a formal qualification (NVQ Level 2 in customer service)
whilst achieving good work experience. This will help me move up in my career.

3. Danni Powell (Level 3 Apprentice in Childcare, Learning and Development
I joined the scheme in September 2008. I was lucky to secure a placement at Pearswood Primary
School whereby I have spent lots of time in the nursery, reception and year 1 classes. I have worked
with a variety of groups of pupils helping them with their reading, writing and creative projects. I have
accompanied them on school trips and worked with them in Christmas nativities. I have now progressed
onto a level 3 apprenticeship whereby I am being further challenged in my role.
Quote from a placement manager …
“We are delighted to be helping to develop young talent in the Borough. As a service that often has to
develop programmes and messages aimed at our younger residents there is nothing better than having
a young person contribute to this work, or indeed, produce it”.
Kevin Taylor
Head of Neighbourhood Services
Facts/Figures and a few of our success stories
• Over 135 young people who secured a placement with the Council have achieved a fully
recognised level 2 qualification since 2003.
• Approximately 24% of level 2 learners progressed onto a level 3 apprenticeship
• 22% are currently still employees of the organisation
• In 2008 one of our learners won the national “learner of the year” award
• A mentoring scheme was attached to the programme to help ease the transition of education
and employment for new recruits to the scheme
• Ex-apprentices are now in careers such as: nursing, teaching, police force, fire service,
journalism, retail and the food industry
Our Benefits Package
Below are just some of the benefits that we can offer you when you come to Bexley:
n Starting training allowance of £100 pw (current allowance scales)
n full support and guidance whilst on the scheme
n all training costs met by the organisation
n apprentices can apply for all normal employee benefits
n Local authority discount scheme providing discounts to staff on a range of specially selected
goods and services
For further information on Bexley's Apprenticeship Scheme please contact Cheryl Jones, Apprenticeship
Consultant on 020 8836 8095 or email Cheryl.jones@bexley.gov.uk
The Council’s Mission and Priorities
Mission statement
The Council has agreed a mission statement as follows:
Listening to you, Working for you, Delivering Value – Bexley First
This mission statement reflects the aspirations of elected members to respond to and deliver for local
residents, and the importance placed on efficiency and delivering value for money in all that we do. It
also reflects the aspirations of the Council to be at the forefront of the way modern councils deliver
services, and to increase the profile and recognition that Bexley receives locally, regionally and
nationally for the way that it serves its residents.
Key Priorities
Bexley remains focused on continuous improvement. The ‘Transformation Strategy to 2014’ now being
developed by the Council aims to implement a ‘one Council’ vision under which all of the Council’s
resources and people will work together in a creative and imaginative effort to achieve the Council’s
agreed priorities.
Four strategic themes underpin this strategy -
n Business Transformation,
n Transforming Procurement,
n Maximising Income and
n Value for Money.
Core Values
The Council has also defined the core values that it wishes to embrace in the way it delivers services to
residents. A major programme of cultural change will support the adoption of these values.
Innovation

4. We are committed to continually improving what we do and the services we provide. We actively seek
ways of improving efficiency and reducing costs. This means continual change, taking calculated risks
and unlimited opportunity for learning.
Listening and Responding
We encourage everyone to participate in discussion and we actively seek out views. We encourage
debate and challenge.
Once we have listened and taken those views into account, we make a decision and act upon it. We
respect the final decision and suspend any individual cynicism.
Open and Accessible
We believe in openness in all of our dealings with every facet of our diverse community - this means
communicating bad news as well as good. This helps to create trust and integrity, as you know where
you stand with us.
Leadership
We are proud of Bexley. We seek out opportunities to promote our achievements and engage others to
commit to our mission, values and objectives.
Partnership
We work together with mutual respect. Only by sharing ideas, identifying the best and taking
responsibility for delivering will we achieve our objectives.
How the Council is organised
A New organisational structure was implemented on 1 April 2009. The revised structure will ensure that
the Council is able to deliver what is required in the future and enhance its ability to deliver objectives.
Services will be organised and delivered through 6 Directorates:
n Chief Executive
n Children’s and Young People’s Services
n Customer Services
n Environment and Regeneration Services
n Finance
n Social and Community Services
Details of the services detailed in each area are set out at www.bexley.gov.uk/service/service.html
Bexley First
The Council has embarked on a major programme of
change under the title Bexley First.
The aim of Bexley First is to improve
the Council’s efficiency and delivery of services to local people, putting Bexley at the forefront of the way
modern
councils operate.
The programme’s aims are:
n Effective delivery of services to customers
n Consolidation of staff onto a single site
n Improved and modern facilities
n Reduction in the Council’s running costs
n Introduction of more efficient ways
of working
n To invigorate and energise the Council
A programme that sees staff changing
the way they work, introducing modern flexible ways of working and making best use of technology, is
already well
under way.
By the end of February 2010 around 1,200 Council employees had been set up to work from home as if
in the office, using laptops and their home broadband.
Planned for the future is a move for staff from the Bexleyheath Civic Offices to temporary
accommodation to allow the site to be redeveloped with a more economical central civic office.
Further information
about the
Bexley First Programme
is available at www.bexley.gov.uk/bexleyfirst
People in Bexley
Bexley employs approximately 8,032 staff. Many services
are provided by the Council’s partner organisations.

5. For example, residential and other services for older people, for people with learning disabilities, home
care services and support for people with physical disabilities, are all delivered by staff employed by
partners.
We believe that there is a strong link between the delivery of high quality services and the retention and
development of a skilled, flexible and well motivated workforce. Our staff development and appraisal
processes reinforce our core values as well as providing the framework for recognising potential and
rewarding staff for their part in the achievements of the Council’s objectives and plans.
We were re-accredited with the Investors in People standard in April 2008, which reflects the Council’s
commitment to improving performance through the development of its workforce at all levels.
We seek to provide a supportive working environment for staff based on clear policies and procedures
(including flexible and remote working), excellent engagement and communication with staff, well-
established appraisal and performance management systems and effective team work, networks and
support groups. This is embraced in our Valuing Diversity Policy.
Equality and diversity
London Borough of Bexley is committed to equality and diversity in employment practice and service
delivery. The Council intends to achieve all its targets in respect of the equalities agenda and become
recognised as a leader on equalities.
What the Council is doing
The Council is developing policies, procedures and equalities schemes supported by action plans to
promote equality and prevent discrimination on the grounds of disability, ethnicity and gender and more
recently on age, religion or belief and sexual orientation. A range of innovative processes are in place to
deliver equality outcomes for the workforce and create a workplace culture that enables all staff to feel
valued.
Progress against the Council’s Equality Schemes are monitored Quarterly with a regular review of
priorities in order to achieve improvements. In September 2009, Bexley achieved Level 4 under the
Equalities Standard for Local Government and through implementation of the Corporate Equality Action
Plan, strives towards excellence.