Paul Wright Apprenticeships Strategy Manager Norfolk County Council Employment and Skills Team

1. Paul Wright Apprenticeships Strategy Manager Norfolk County Council Employment and Skills Team 01603 638463 / 07778 326564 Paul.wright@norfolk.gov.uk

2. What Is an Apprenticeship? A job At least 30 hours per week for a minimum of 1 year A “set” of Nationally Recognised Qualifications Includes a vocational element (often an NVQ) Functional Skills (English and Maths) A technical Certificate (such as a BTEC certificate) Personal Learning and Thinking Skills Employee Rights and Responsibilities

3. How Are Apprenticeships Delivered? A mixture of learning at and away from the workplace Does not always include time at a college Always has some element of Off the Job Training Vocational Assessment Theoretical input (1 to1 or in groups) Can be 100% on employers premises

4. Funding 16 to 18 year olds fully funded Unless studying for more than one qualification at the same level and in the same occupational area 19 to 24 year olds funded at 50% Employer Contribution Required 25 years and older 50% Employer Contribution Required. Balance funded through loan scheme in the future

5. Levels Intermediate Apprenticeship Level 2 Advanced Apprenticeship Level 3 Higher Apprenticeship Level 4 +

6. Occupational Areas Over 200 different frameworks nationally Not all frameworks are readily available in Norfolk Information on frameworks can be found here http://www.afo.sscalliance.org

7. Apprentices Starting at 16

8. What Employers Say about school leavers UK CES Employer Survey

9. The Age Comparison

10. Feedback from a local employer On the whole, young people are able to do the tasks required In fact some complete the tasks quicker and better than experienced staff

11. However the big BUT

12. Issues Identified included Attendance Issues (particularly over the Olympics) Health Issues (particularly mental health) Punctuality (and going missing during the day) Behavioural issues inc. attention seeking, volatility and tantrums Failure to complete induction, expenses, timesheets Lack of engagement with policy (health and safety) Failure to wear uniforms provided Upsetting managers and mentors (One fell asleep in the Chief Executives briefing) Refusal to take their turn at making drinks/photocopying etc. Not prepared for repetitive nature of some jobs Constant calls from parents when things go wrong Constant playing with mobile phones

13. Apprenticeship Wage Rates From 1/10/12 Apprenticeship Rate £2.65 per hour Applies to 16 to 18 year olds and 19+ for the first year of their training Otherwise normal minimum wage rates apply. This is the minimum rate – Some pay more; much more

14. Where to find an Apprenticeship? Help You Choose www.helpyouchoose.org Apprenticeship Vacancies www.apprenticeships.org.uk Jobcentre Plus http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/index.htm Company Websites Such as Norse, British Sugar

15. Supporting Learners Online applications are a particular challenge Support to help young people identify their strengths Assistance to complete the “form” Spelling, grammar and punctuation. (esp. Online) Interview Travel Planning Rehearsing predictable questions in advance

16. A chance to break the stereotypes Case studies exist already for Apprenticeships Males in Hair and Beauty Females In Construction Females in Engineering

17. What types of Learner suit an Apprenticeship? Need learners at all levels from Foundation Learning leavers to those with A Levels Some Apprenticeship employers look for UCAS points Suited to those who learn by doing or by watching others Have to be able to pass the basic skills assessments Additional Support is available for LLDD via SFA contracts

18. Thank You Any Questions?