apprenticeships for the public sector doug harrison northamptonshire learning and skills council

Apprenticeships for the Public Sector

Doug Harrison

Northamptonshire Learning and Skills Council

What are Apprenticeships ?

• Work-based training programmes designed for your current and future employees aged between 16 and 24 at the start of the Apprenticeship. Fully funded for 16-18 year olds, part funded for 19-24 year olds.

• Older employees may undertake apprenticeships but there is no funding associated with this age group.

How are they developed ?

• Apprenticeships are designed by business for business. Sector Skills Councils, supported by business representatives, decide on the course content.

What is the typical content ?

• An NVQ at the appropriate level (NVQ2 or 3)

• Key Skills– Communication and Numeracy are

Mandatory– Others are optional

• Technical Certificates

Are there different levels ?

• Yes

– Apprenticeships at NVQ Level 2• Equivalent to GCSEs

– Advanced Apprenticeships at NVQ Level 3• Equivalent to A level

How are they delivered ?

• Most of the training is “on-the-job” at your premises. The rest is provided by a locally approved learning provider.

What do learning providers do ?

• Help you decide if, and which, Apprenticeship is right for you.

• Explain the way Apprenticeships might work for you and if funding is available.

• Agree a Training Plan with you and your Apprentice.

• Recruit an Apprentice or support your existing eligible employees

• Manage the training and evaluation.

Are the learning providers good quality ?

• All providers are regularly inspected by OFSTED.

• Reports are available on OFSTED website.– www.ofsted.gov.uk

What Apprenticeships are available ?

• There are over 160 Apprenticeships across 80 different industry sectors e.g. Business Functions, Business & Professional, Construction, Engineering, Environmental, Health & Care, Manufacturing & Production, Media, Public Sector, Retail & Leisure, ICT, Telecomms, Transport & Automotive.

What are my responsibilities ?

• H & S induction• Induction into role• “On-the-job” training• To take an interest in Apprentice’s progress• Attend Reviews• Contract of employment• Paying wages

How much do I pay the Apprentice ?

• The LSC specify minimum pay of £80 per week.

• Apprentices who are under 19 are not entitled to the minimum wage.

• Apprentices aged 19-25 who are in the first 12 months of their Apprenticeship are not entitled to the minimum wage.

What are the business benefits ?

• Improve your productivity– Trained by those with skills and experience

• Motivate your people– Eager to know more, valued and easier to retain

• Give them relevant training– Expertise directly relevant to your business

• Avoid skills shortages– Develop specialist skills you need for the latest

technology and working practices in your sector.

How do I get started ?

• Contact the Northamptonshire LSC• Talk to NTDP – NTDP are a membership

organisation for training providers throughout the county

• NOTE: Not all providers offer all apprenticeships in all geographical areas.

Visit www.ntdp.org.uk

Apprenticeships for the Public Sector

Questions ?

T2G and the Skills Pledge for the Public Sector

Marilyn Saddington

Skills Broker - East Midlands Business

• What services & support employers can access under Train to Gain?

• What is the Skills Pledge?

• How employers can make the Skills Pledge & why you should consider it?

Train to Gain

• National skills service to support employers – all sizes & sectors – to improve skills of employees to improve their business performance

• Launched nationally August 2006• 52,000 employers engaged• 240,000 employees on development activities

What is the Train to Gain service?

• independent and impartial brokerage service• Identifying skills needs at all levels in line with

business need• Identifying & sourcing provision to meet those

needs• Access to government funding where eligible &

available

Role of Skills Broker

• Act in best interest of the employer• Knowledge of other areas of funded skills

training• Diagnostic – organisation needs analysis• Independent & impartial advice & support• Appreciate the wider sector & local skills

issues• Proactive networking with providers

What is the funded offer?

• Skills for life – numeracy & literacy level 1 or 2 qualification

• First Level 2 NVQ• Level 3 Jumpers (those without Level 2 but

working at Level 3)• Contribution to wage costs for those employing

less than 50• Approved Providers

Extension of Train to Gain

• Funding support for second level 2 qualification

• Self-employed & voluntary sector included• Leadership & management • Funding support for level 3 qualifications• Improved sector knowledge• Skills pledge

Benefits of Vocational Qualifications

• Minimum disruption to work patterns• Flexibility of delivery, assessment &

qualifications• Designed to meet needs of individuals &

organisations• Work-based in line with role• Wide range to cover all roles

Skills Pledge

• Voluntary commitment by the leadership of an organisation to support the development of all its employees

• Support & advice of Skills Broker following registration if desired through Train to Gain

Why get involved?

• Purpose to ensure all staff are skilled, competent & able to make a full contribution to the success of the business

• Covers the whole organisation• Economic success & competitiveness• Ensure skills of employees develop in line with

the needs of the business

Further Information

Train to Gain & Skills Pledge enquiry line: 0845 057 1817

Web site: www.traintogain.gov.uk

Marilyn Saddington – tel: 07920 862977

T2G and the Skills Pledge for the Public Sector

Questions ??

Skills for Life Opportunities for Public Sector

Maggie HeffernanTresham Institute

Skills for Life, Basic Skills – what are they?

• The functional English and maths skills used in every day life

• Reading, writing, speaking, listening and number

• National standards, national qualifications

SfL Key Skills National Curriculum

NVQs

Entry 1 NC Level 1

Entry 2 NC Level 2

Entry 3 NC Level 3

Level 1 Level 1 GCSE D-G Level 1

Level 2 Level 2 GCSE A*-C Level 2

Level 3 A Levels Level 3

Level 4 Graduate Level 4

Government Skills for Life Strategy

• national strategy to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of adults launched in 2001

• 5.2m with literacy below level 1• 15m with numeracy below level 1

National context

Improving skills among public sector employees and among employees in the supply chain to the public sector is a key priority

Cost of poor basic skills• If you have good literacy and numeracy skills

you can earn £50,000 more over your working life than someone with poorer skills

• 50% of jobs are closed to those with skills at entry level

• The cost to industry of poor basic skills could be as much as £4.8 billion per year

Government aim

Raise demand among public sector employers to take a proactive sustained and strategic approach to workplace basic skills

How?

Which works best:

• A leaflet?

• Talking to someone who knows what is involved and is confident to talk positively about opportunities to improve skills?

Which will employees respond to?

• “Do you have any basic skills needs?”

• “Do you have an up-to-date qualification in English and maths?”

What is more positive?

• ‘Do you have problems with reading, writing and maths?’

• ‘Would you like to gain a qualification and brush up your skills?’

What can Tresham offer?• Flexible provision at time and place to suit

employers• Work in partnership with Union Learning

Representatives to give positive opportunities to all employees

• English and Maths provision within the context of job roles, business needs

Every employee counts

Could improved skills reduce the cost of mistakes?Can you afford not to develop your employees’ skills?Are your staff working to the best of their potential?What hidden talent lies in your workforce?

Further benefits• SfL courses have promoted further learning

opportunites to employees – eg NVQs• Improved working relationships, employees,

ULRs and employers• A confident, flexible, skilled workforce

responsive to change• Improved effectiveness and efficiency

How to start• Contact Northamptonshire LSC• Skills for Life provider network throughout

Northamptonshire• Local Colleges• Train to Gain broker

Further information

Maggie Heffernan

Tresham Institute

mheffernan@tresham.ac.uk

01536 413309