Cannock Chase: Amazon to invest in creative apprenticeships

Bridge that gap: David Williams at the Stafford Western Access Route viaduct site

Cannock Chase Chamber

of Commerce

Contact: Chris Plant T: 0845 6036650

Road project set to complete on time

Completion of a multi-million-pound road project to ease congestion in Stafford town centre is on course for completion by the end of the year.

Construction of the Stafford Western Access Route construction began two years ago, and as well as improving traffic flow in the town centre, it will enable millions of pounds worth of new housing and business development to take place.

The latest phase of the scheme had included strengthening the road over a rail bridge at Doxey, and this followed a new section of the road opening in January, linking Doxey to Castlefields.

Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport David Williams said: “The Stafford Western Access Route is a huge project for the town and Staffordshire, and one of the biggest engineering schemes the county council has undertaken in over a decade.”

Improvements planned for Rugeley Leisure Centre

Cannock Chase Council is spending £1.25m on improving the facilities at Rugeley Leisure Centre.

Improvement works include the installation of a new heating, hot water and energy system within the centre, which will be used when the centre’s swimming pool is brought back into use. The pool will be retiled and recommissioned as part of the new pool plant and water treatment systems, and will be ready to reopen at the end of August.

In addition, a new outdoor 3G artificial grass pitch with low energy LED floodlights will be installed, along with extended car park facilities, which will include electric vehicle charging points.

Councillor Adrienne Fitzgerald said: “Leisure facilities in the district have suffered with closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The full sized all weather 3G grass pitch will be an excellent addition to the current facilities.”

Amazon to invest in creative apprenticeships

Retail giant Amazon has launched a £2.5m project to help small businesses across England take on apprentices through the levy transfer scheme.

The US online retailer says the Amazon Apprenticeship Fund will help create more than 200 new apprenticeships during the rest of this year.

The company has already announced the creation of 1,000 new apprenticeship roles in 2021 within Amazon, including 100 degree-level apprenticeships and a further 500 for its employees.

‘We are proud to be creating new opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds across England’

In the new scheme, Amazon will work directly with small businesses selling on Amazon to help boost their productivity, sales, exports and marketing skills for the digital age by taking on apprentices who will undertake training in these areas.

These apprentices will receive a mix of on-thejob and classroom training, together with specialist online learning provided by Amazon, which will show them how to build a successful e-commerce business, how to market and advertise products to customers, and how to sell to a global customer base.

Amazon has set aside £1m over two years within the Apprenticeship Fund specifically to support apprenticeship roles in the creative industries, including across the film and TV sectors, music and publishing.

Amazon Music is providing apprenticeship opportunities for up and coming talent in the music industry, and Amazon Studios is looking to do the same with the independent production it works with.

John Boumphrey, UK country manager, Amazon, said: “We are proud to be creating new opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds across England to gain skills through the Amazon Apprenticeship Fund.

“We are committed to supporting the UK’s economic recovery post-Covid, and this fund will give our partners, customers and small businesses in the Amazon ecosystem the opportunity to take on talented apprentices who will help those organisations grow.”

The new scheme is being backed by the Government, and Gillian Keegan, minister for Apprenticeships and Skills. Gillian said: “It is brilliant to see Amazon continuing to support apprenticeships within its business and beyond.

“Apprenticeships play a key role in helping businesses of all sizes develop the skilled workforce they need and secure their talent pipeline for the future.

“As a former apprentice myself, I know the life changing impact an apprenticeship can have. I’d urge as many people as possible to check out the opportunities on offer.”