Clerk of the House launches Apprentice Scheme
19 July 2013 (updated on 19 July 2013)
Ten young people across London and the South East began their twelve-month placement in the House of Commons Service on Monday 15 July.
The Clerk’s Apprentice Scheme is managed in partnership with City Gateway and offers young people between the ages of 17-24 the opportunity to gain practical experience working in the House of Commons Service while studying for a NVQ in Business and Administration.
The apprentices have been recruited into positions across the House Service.Promoting a diverse workforce
The idea behind the Clerk’s Apprentices Scheme is to offer a chance to those who might not have thought to come and work in Parliament.
Through the Diversity and Inclusion Scheme the House of Commons Service aims to improve the representation of people in our workforce, to ensure we are reaching out to the widest pool of talent, and representing the House in a positive and inclusive light.
This scheme gives people from under-represented groups an opportunity to gain valuable experience of working within the House of Commons Service while earning a qualification to increase their employability for the future.
The long term goal is for our workforce to be representative of the people we serve, be a respected institution, and demonstrate our commitment to being an inclusive workplace where people feel valued.
Year on year, we aim to further improve, adapt and change the scheme, giving participants key development and skills for life which they will never forget and, in achieving that, presenting a platform for them to aspire to bigger and greater things.
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2013 marks the 650th anniversary of the role of Clerk of the House of Commons. Robert De Melton, the first known Clerk of the House, took office in 1363. Over the centuries the role has grown considerably. The current Clerk of the House is Sir Robert Rogers KCB, who was appointed in October 2011.