Apprenticeships

A Great Idea for Care Leavers

Presented by Lyndsey Hamper

21 April 20232

National Apprenticeship Service

Employer Services

The Employer Services team work to increase the number of employers providing Apprenticeship opportunities and advertising through the Apprenticeship vacancies system.

Learner Services

The Learner Services team work to increase the number of suitable young people and adults choosing an Apprenticeship as a path to sustainable employment and/or progression. The team also works to increase the number of individuals using the Apprenticeship vacancies system to search for Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship vacancies support

The Apprenticeship vacancies support team support training providers with the advertising of Apprenticeship vacancies.

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Data sharing from Apprenticeship vacancies online.

• Weekly vacancy reports are sent from National Apprenticeship Service to Connexions staff via Local Authority colleagues. These reports show all current live vacancies in Local Authority areas.– Vacancies with no applications are highlighted on the report in yellow.

– Vacancies created by the Apprenticeship grants for employers of apprentices aged 16 – 24 are indicated on the report by ‘ESF funded opportunity’.

• Data reports regarding successful and unsuccessful candidates are shared with the Local Authority monthly.

What is an

Apprenticeship?

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What is an Apprenticeship?

• Apprenticeships are frameworks of nationally recognised qualifications that offer a mixture of work based training and education.

• An apprentice:– Is an employee earning a wage

– Works alongside experienced staff to gain job specific skills.

– Receives training to work towards the qualifications in their framework which can include:• Competence based qualifications such as National Vocational Qualifications – Level 2

or above

• Knowledge based qualifications such as BTEC or City & Guilds Award

• Skills qualifications such as Key Skills/ Functional Skills

• Training can be undertaken on a day release basis or be delivered on-site by a college or a private training provider.

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Apprenticeship Overview

• Apprenticeships can take between 1-4 years to complete depending on

the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the sector.

• The minimum wage for apprentices is £2.50 an hour with the average salary at approximately £170 per week.

• All apprentices must be employed for a minimum of 16 hours a week.

• 16-18 year old training is fully funded by the government. Employers only pay their salary. An apprentice will be given time off for study for the duration of the Apprenticeship.

• There are more than 190 Apprenticeship frameworks available within a variety of industry sectors ranging from accountancy & engineering to veterinary nursing and floristry.

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Apprenticeship Eligibility

• Apprenticeships are available to anyone over 16.

• Learners need to be resident in England.

• Apprentices must not be taking part in any other full time education.

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The Apprenticeship Framework

NVQ

Technical

Certificate

Employment rights

and responsibilities

Key Skills

Components of a framework

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The Apprenticeship Framework

National Vocational Qualification

• Apprenticeship – NVQ Level 2 - Equivalent to 5 good GSCE passes.

• Advanced Apprenticeship – NVQ Level 3 - Equivalent to 2 A Level passes.

• Higher Apprenticeships – NVQ Level 4.

• Relevant to the work they do, the skills they need, and at their pace.

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The Apprenticeship Framework

Technical Certificate

• The technical certificate is an assessment of a candidate’s knowledge and understanding that underpins the practical work they complete with an employer.

• Can be a BTEC National Diploma, City Guilds Progression Award etc.

• Not all Apprenticeships require technical certificates.

• Can be taught at the training provider’s premises, on day release or in the workplace.

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The Apprenticeship Framework

Employment Rights and Responsibilities

Employment rights and responsibilities are an element of the technical certificate.

It covers a wide range of areas including:

–Employment Law

–Discrimination

–Health and Safety

–Working hours, holidays, sickness, and Maternity/Paternity leave

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The Apprenticeship Framework

Key Skills/Functional Skills

– Application of number

– Problem solving

– Communication

– Working with others

– Information and communication technology

• Key skill levels in each framework can differ from the NVQ level.

• Assessed through evidence produced in the NVQ Portfolio.

• Transferable – vital for any job or further training.

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Apprenticeship Standards

• Apprenticeships are approved under the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The NQF sets out the level at which a qualification can be recognised and shows how different types of qualifications compare, in terms of the demands they place on learners.

• The Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) sets out the minimum requirements to be included in a recognised English Apprenticeship framework.

• The specification and guidance documents can be found at www.apprenticeships.org.uk/About-Us/SASE.aspx.

• The final version of the SASE will be available from October 2010 and will take effect from 6th April 2011.

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Progression Routes

Apprenticeship

Vacancies

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Apprenticeship Website –apprenticeships.org.uk

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Help your candidates find their ideal Apprenticeship

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Apprenticeship Vacancies –Finding an Apprenticeship

• The Apprenticeship vacancies site brings providers, employers and candidates together in one place.

• Candidates search for and apply for vacancies online.

• Vacancies are advertised by training providers on behalf of employers.

• There are currently 8435 vacancies being advertised nationally.

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How can a young person use Apprenticeship vacancies

• Go to www.apprenticeships.org.uk.

• Complete their registration and profile.

• Search for current vacancies.

• Save their favourite search.

• Set up SMS/email alerts.

• Apply for vacancies online.

• Check their “My Homepage” regularly.

• They need to include a phone number and a sensible email address for employers to contact them on.

• They can check the FAQs section if they get stuck.

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Registration Process

• Go to Apprenticeship vacancies and register their details by clicking the 'Register now' link under the 'New User?' tab.

• They complete their contact details.

• Then create username and password. Advise them to keep their username and password safe.

• They'll receive a confirmation email sent to their inbox. They must click on the link in the email to activate their account. This link opens a window to their 'My Home' page.

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‘My Home’ page

The 'My Home' page is a candidates secure space.

They can use it to:

• Save areas of interest (e.g. business administration).

• Search for Apprenticeship vacancies and save their search results .

• Manage their applications.

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Searching for a Vacancy

Candidates can search for Apprenticeships that match their interests by:

• Occupation/job role

• Keyword

• Employer

• Learning provider

• Location/postcode

• They can click on any of the listed vacancies for more information.

• The search results can be saved, so they are easy to access at any time.

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Application Process

• Applying is easy.

• The application form is simple, secure and reusable.

• There may be two supplementary questions which need to be completed for each new job application.

• Candidates will be prompted to update their profile and can input two telephone numbers at this point – the employer will use these number to contact them if they are successful.

• Candidates can view the status of their applications on the ‘My Home Page’ section.

Questions?