Award-winning Leighton student helps create catchy slogan

Former Vandyke student Matthew Wallis – who won the Public Service People Managers’ Association Apprentice of the Year title – works for Central Bedfordshire Council.

He was part of the team which came up with ‘Get up and grow’ which will be used across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex as part of a collaborative strategy for the introduction and implementation of the new apprenticeship levy.

Matthew, 19, who was offered the position of projects support officer after completing his training last month, said: “Our message targets people of all ages because apprenticeships are not just for young school leavers.

“It’s aimed at anyone with get-up-and-go who wants to grow and develop their career path.”
The goal is for all councils in the region to be offering apprenticeships to their existing workforce by 2019 with entry-level apprenticeships increasing to more than 1,000.