STROUD District Council leader Steve Lydon keeps you up to date with council matters

  • MONDAY July 4 – Friday July 22 Work experience

Every July, the council provides work experience to schoolchildren from across the district. This year, we have 15 pupils learning about the world of work and the council. With areas such as environmental health, planning, community safety, the museum, sports centres, customer services, IT and communications, to name but a few, there’s a huge variety to the work we do. Work experience week is rewarding for staff as well as the pupils who attend. Of course it isn’t just the council that offers work experience opportunities – many employers, from various sectors also take part. In order to recognise high-quality work experience schemes, the council runs the Skills for Stroud Employability Charter, which aims to help businesses, schools and pupils to improve the employment potential for our future workers. Take a look at skillsforstroud.org. There’s a wealth of useful information on the site and we’re delighted that several businesses, organisations and schools have already reached the Skills for Stroud standard. By the way, if you’re a business, it’s free to take part so get in touch.

An update on the canal restoration. Another 400m of canal has just been opened up, this time at Cheapside, between Wallbridge and Doctor Newton’s Way in Stroud. Difficulties caused by past landslips have been overcome and the result is there for all to see and enjoy. When work to restore the lower lock at Wallbridge is completed this new stretch will link up to the main part of the restored canal to deliver 6km of navigable waterway from Capel’s Mill to Stonehouse. As always, our thanks go to the army of volunteers who continue their excellent work on this multi-faceted project. Without their help the project would not be possible.

  • Thursday, July 7 – The Great British High Street

The Great British High Street Competition was launched today. Last year, more than 230 high streets took part. This year, the market town category has been split into large and small, and they are also recognising local ‘High Street Heroes’ such as local business owners, store managers, people involved in markets and young people that are working hard for their towns and high streets. Interested in nominating your town or a local hero? Visit thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk.

  • Friday, July 8 – University of Gloucestershire

We already have a strong relationship with SGStroud College, but working with the county’s university is also critical to deliver a joined-up approach for employment and economic growth. At this meeting with the university’s vice chancellor Stephen Marsden, we looked at specific projects, including the new centre at Berkeley Green, but it was also interesting to cover the work it is doing on creating graduate apprenticeships for the caring profession.