Kirklees Council

Follow Our Cultural Heart for the latest news and project updates ??

We’ve come to an exciting point in our plans to transform Huddersfield town centre as part of the Our Cultural Heart plans.?Phase I includes the build of a new and modern library hub that will meet the needs of the local community. So we’re excited to announce the start of the Our Cultural Heart Library Festival: Create.Imagine.Explore! Come along to have some fun with the family in our free workshops and events that cover textiles, embroidery, poetry, book binding, and carnival magic.?We’re also delivering a range of activities direct to community groups including workshops by award-winning book illustrator Chris Mould for school groups at the Huddersfield Library Hub.?Whilst you’re having fun you can tell us what you would like to see in our new library building that will be completed in 2026. Read more about the festival below ??

It is now less than a week until the new Procurement Act 2023 will come into effect on 24 February, meaning a change to the rules that shape how public bodies buy goods and services. The Procurement Act 2023 will introduce measures to improve and streamline the way that procurement is done and benefit suppliers of all sizes, particularly small businesses, start-ups and social enterprises. Any suppliers who want to bid for work and contract with public bodies, including Kirklees Council, will need to be registered on the Central Digital Platform. Suppliers can register on the platform from 24 February 2025. Guidance and information to help suppliers prepare and do business under the new regime can be accessed on the Government website via the following link ?? https://orlo.uk/VFdqi

Today is Celebration Friday for National Apprenticeship Week. Here we take a look at the success of our Apprentice Heating Engineer Grant Dewhurst was recently awarded with both the Apprentice of the Year (in plumbing and heating) and the prestigious Governors Award at the Leeds College of Building Awards Ceremony 2024. In his day-to-day apprentice role, Grant is learning the job of a domestic heating engineer, working on boilers, fires, and repairing heating and hot water for our tenants in the borough. He’s been working for Kirklees Council for just two years. Grant’s journey is particularly inspiring as he embarked on his apprenticeship at the age of 38, following his career in the armed forces. His transition into the building industry has been nothing short of extraordinary, demonstrating that it’s never too late to pursue new dreams and achieve greatness. “Winning these awards is a testament to the support I’ve received from my mentors and the incredible learning environment at Leeds College of Building,” Grant said. “I’m excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead.” Myles Lawrence, Grant’s team leader in property services, expressed immense pride in his achievements. “We are incredibly proud of Grant and all that he has accomplished. He is a credit to our service and an inspiration to everyone on our team,” said Myles. “Grant’s dedication and hard work have set a high standard, and we look forward to seeing his continued success in the industry.”

At Kirklees Council we run highly rated apprenticeship programmes, which allows you to earn, learn and build a successful career. As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we are highlighting the benefits of training on the job with us. You will learn from experienced staff in the workplace and undertake an industry recognised qualification. On top of that the council offers a competitive salary, with access to staff benefits, pensions, employee networks and wellbeing packages. Our roles are suitable for all ages, from school and college leavers to those looking to re-train into a different career. Our apprenticeship vacancies are due to launched so be sure to check the Careers at Kirklees website for more information. By creating an account, you can set up job alerts to be notified when these, and other suitable vacancies become live. Alternatively, you can contact the council’s apprenticeship team to find out more information at: ? Emailing [email protected] ? Visiting ?? https://orlo.uk/zbtAw ? Calling 01484 221000

Landowner or developer? We’re on the search for land to be considered for development as part of our updated Local Plan. If you have some potential land in mind, you can use our Call for Sites form to let us know. We are looking for a wide variety of sites including housing, employment, commercial, and public green spaces, with a particular interest in land that can be reused or redeveloped within towns and villages or on previously developed land especially interested to hear about potential opportunities for the development, re-use or redevelopment of land, sites and buildings within towns and villages or on previously developed land. Whilst this is our preference for development, the potential scale of development to meet the future housing and employment needs of the district, will involve considering all kinds of land. To find out more about Call for Sites, visit ?? https://orlo.uk/SGGDU

Is your business considering employing an apprentice, but you are not sure where to start? Did you know that funding could be available to your company? Our Employment and Skills can help you navigate the apprenticeship landscape and work with you to identify what future skills you may need within your business and help you access funding by highlighting grants which may be available to you. If you are a smaller employer, you are eligible for government funding which will pay between 95% and 100% of the apprentice training costs. If you are a large employer, you can use your levy to pay for your apprenticeship training. The team can also help you explore wider apprenticeship opportunities. For more information on apprenticeship funding and recruitment, get in touch with the Employment and Skills team by ? Emailing [email protected] ? Visiting ?? https://orlo.uk/vR2jt ? Calling 01484 225016

On 24 February, the new Procurement Act 2023 will come into effect meaning a change to the rules that shape how public bodies buy goods and services. The Procurement Act 2023 will introduce measures to improve and streamline the way that procurement is done and benefit suppliers of all sizes, particularly small businesses, start-ups and social enterprises. Any suppliers who want to bid for work and contract with public bodies, including Kirklees Council, will need to be registered on the Central Digital Platform. Suppliers can register on the platform from 24 February 2025. Guidance and information to help suppliers prepare and do business under the new regime can be accessed on the Government website via the following link ?? https://orlo.uk/2yK5n

To make the planning process quicker, easier, and more efficient while still providing local residents plenty of opportunities to get involved, we have updated our Development Management Charter. We want to make sure Kirklees is seen as a great place for all kinds of development, and this update forms part of a bigger picture in terms of updates to the whole planning process ?? https://orlo.uk/NRIg9

Your Local Plan, your say. The government wants to make it easier to build things like labs, factories, data centres, and digital facilities to support modern businesses. The Local Plan helps to find the best places for new businesses and investments. The Local Plan looks at what different industries need and identifies suitable sites that will help the local and national economy grow. In Kirklees, we already have successful businesses in manufacturing, textiles, and many small and medium companies. We also have a busy university and big investment projects across many of our town centres including the Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor. With our Local Plan we want to build a strong, competitive economy, please visit ?? https://orlo.uk/b1kIn to have your say.