Harlow Council and its housing and environmental maintenance company, HTS, are using National Apprenticeship Week (9-15 February 2026) to reaffirm their commitment to creating opportunities for young people through apprenticeships, graduate schemes and meaningful work experience.
Both organisations continue to employ apprentices in a diverse range of roles, and the council supports a national graduate management trainee programme. Many former apprentices across both organisations have progressed into permanent roles and long‑term careers. Since April 2025, the council has supported dozens of work experience placements, with further placements provided through HTS.
HTS is also expanding its apprenticeship programme, working with Harlow College on a specialist property course, developing a dedicated classroom for apprentices, and building a significant new practical training room for hands‑on learning. A large space has also been set aside for Rainbow Services to create a practical skills training room for local young people.
To ensure local employers also play their part in supporting young people into work, the council has recently strengthened its Social Value Policy. This ensures that contractors working on major projects - including those helping to rebuild the town - create apprenticeships, training placements and clear routes into early career employment for young people in Harlow.
The council will shortly be announcing a new apprenticeship and placement programme to bring together apprenticeship opportunities in the council, HTS and through its contractors as well as work placements for school students.