Huge response to apprentice search

A TOTAL of 1,180 people have applied for a new city council funded scheme in which businesses take on apprentices.  They are competing for over 100 places as part of the Liverpool Apprenticeship Scheme business grant initiative. It means almost 10 applicants are chasing each position.  The posts are across a wide range of professions including, joiners, electricians and computer technicians through to accounts clerks and hospitality staff.

Firms taking part include:-

► Plus Dane Group – who are taking on 14 people in areas such as business support, customer service and project support

► North Liverpool Regeneration Company (NLRCO) - which has agreed to take on 10 people and train them in joinery, brick laying and construction

► 60 Hope Street - which is taking on five people in catering and hospitality

Councillor Nick Small, the council’s cabinet member for employment and skills, said:- “We have been absolutely deluged with applications and literally bowled over by the response.  It shows how vital this scheme is, and how important it is to increase the number of apprenticeships across the city.  At a time when cuts in funding are being made across the board it is really important that we support our young people in gaining the skills they need to obtain employment.  We want to have a highly-skilled and motivated workforce ready to take advantage of any improvement in the economy in future years.”

The apprenticeships range from 12 months to 3 years and the scheme is being funded by £300,000 from the city council.  A one-off payment of up to £3,000 per recruit is paid on condition that the apprentices are from Liverpool and aged 16 and over.  The business grant scheme is particularly supporting employers which help fill recognised skills gaps or target potential areas for economic growth in the city such as the Superport, low carbon economy/environmental related work and the knowledge and visitor economies.

The successful applicants will be chosen during Assessment Days in National Apprentice Week from 7 February  to 11 February 2011, when the city council will also be holding a range of events to encourage firms to take on apprentices.

RICK ASTLEY COMES HOME FOR HAYDOCK PARK MUSIC NIGHT

CHART topper Rick Astley is returning to his roots for Haydock Park's opening music night of 2011. The singer, whose Never Gonna Give You Up shot to number one in 17 countries and was the best-selling single of the year in the UK, grew up just a few furlongs from the racecourse in the village of Newton-le-Willows. The evening concert follows a full programme of horse racing on Saturday, 16 April 2011 and tickets for what will undoubtedly be a popular night for his fans are now on sale. Haydock Park is ready to rock to the sounds of the 80s with the artist certain to perform plenty of the old favourites, including Whenever You Need Somebody and Together Forever. Rick Astley, who toured with Peter Kay last year and released a new single Lights Out which entered the UK charts, is the first music act confirmed for Haydock Park this year. More acts for midsummer dates will be announced in coming weeks. Dickon White, Haydock Park's managing director, said:- "Haydock Park's series of music nights after racing has got better year after year and the crowds keep returning in ever bigger numbers. We are extremely excited to be welcoming Rick Astley, who really is coming back home, as we launch the 2011 season of music nights." Tickets, which include both the evening's horse racing and concert, are on sale. Bookings can be made online, by telephone on:- 0844 579 3006 or from Haydock Park Racecourse before or on the day. Prices:- Premier Enclosure £45; County Stand £30; Tattersalls £20; Newton Enclosure £12. Gates will open on Saturday, 16 April 2011, at 3.35pm. The first race is currently scheduled for 5.35pm, with the finale at 8.05pm after which Rick Astley will come on stage.

A&E consultant Dr Charlie Scott retires

ONE of Southport’s best-known hospital doctors is retiring after nearly 30 years in the town.  Dr Charlie Scott joined what was then Southport General Infirmary in 1983 as Consultant in Accident and Emergency Medicine.  He was the hospital’s only A&E consultant and remained so for the next 25 years, assisted by a steady stream of senior house officers.“We were treating 30,000 patients a year at the beginning with a desk, 3 trolley spaces and 3 cubicles. “Now we see nearly 50,000 patients a year, have a team of 21 people with 5 consultants and are half-way through a £1¾m refurbishment.” said Dr Scott who lives in Birkdale, Southport. The patients that Dr Scott sees have changed radically over the years too.  “Britain is now one of the safest countries in the world thanks to seat belts and better engineered cars, less heavy industry and safer workplaces, so we see many fewer serious accidents as happened when I first started in medicine.  If people think A&E is like ER or Casualty, they should think again. Many of our patients are now elderly with medical problems. We don’t even see that many heart attack patients thanks to people leading healthier lives and changes in treatment and practice.”  Dr Scott, who is married to Hilary and has four grown-up children, plans more fishing, birdwatching and climbing the Lakeland fells in his retirement … but not golf. “I may be a Scotsman and I may live in Birkdale but I don’t play golf – I don’t even like it!”  His other interests include chairing Augusts' annual Woodvale Rally at RAF Woodvale in Formby and Ainsdale Scouts. He is also honorary club doctor at Southport FC.  Reflecting back on his career in A&E, he added:- “I like to solve problems. In A&E we sort people out – and that’s nice.” Dr Scott’s retirement was marked with a buffet lunch and presentation in the Clinical Education Centre at Southport hospital by Dr Graham Butcher, Associate Medical Director.  He was escorted there from A&E by its matron, Jayne Norbury, who was the first nurse to greet him in the department when he first arrived in 1983.

Queer To Stay - 21 Years Of Manchester Pride

MANCHESTER Pride turns 21 this summer and is marking the milestone with a commemorative exhibition, Queer To Stay: 21 Years Of Manchester Pride. This comprehensive collection of images, memorabillia, stories and more, at The Lowry, from Saturday, 4 June 2011 to Sunday, 16 October 2011, will document the festival’s rich history and explore the impact the Festival has had on individuals, community groups and charities in the region.

From its humble beginnings as a collection of bring-and-buy stalls outside the Rembrandt Pub in 1991 to its current inception as one of Europe’s largest and liveliest celebrations, Manchester Pride has grown and developed with its audience to become a key date in the UK’s Festival calendar.

Queer To Stay - 21 Years Of Manchester Pride aims to chart the history of this historic festival through archive images, stories and memorabilia. Festival organisers are asking Pride goers to come forward with Pride posters, t-shirts, videos, brochures, tickets from throughout the Festival’s 21 year history. Organisers are also encouraging people to come forward with any interesting facts and firsts from previous years.

This exhibition also aims to explore the impact Pride has on LGBT communities in and around Manchester. Since 2003 Manchester Pride has raised £895,000 for LGBT and HIV charities, the most raised by any Pride event in Europe. Queer To Stay: 21 Years Of Manchester Pride will look at the many charities and individuals who have benefited from monies raised by Pride in its 21 years, exploring the important legacy of a festival often just seen as a weekend of hedonistic fun.

Jackie Crozier, festival director of Manchester Pride, said:- “I’m really excited about this exhibition and having the chance to document the last 21 years of Pride is just wonderful. I would encourage people who have anything special stored away from previous Pride’s to get in touch. We’re particularly interested in those who attended the very first Pride in 1991 outside the Rembrandt pub.”

Michael Simpson, Head of Visual Art and Engagement at The Lowry comments:- "Pride has been such an important part of people’s lives for 21 years now. We hope this exhibition will be a comprehensive exploration of the impact Pride has had, both as a life-affirming annual celebration and a life saving year round charity."