School Leavers

1. School Leavers

2. Youth Contract • Aim and what it does • To get every unemployed young person earning or learning again before long term damage is done. • It will help the most disengaged 16 and 17 year olds by getting them back to school or college, onto an apprenticeship or into a job with training. Is open to all businesses, including those that already employ large numbers of young people (like retail and construction) and emerging sectors (like the green economy, creative industries and ICT).

3. Who it will help • The Youth Contract will provide opportunities to nearly half-a-million young people. • Cost to the government • £1bn • Successes and failures • The project was launched in November 2011, so it has no successes or failures yet.

4. Apprenticeships • Aims and what it does • As employees, apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills.   • Between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the industry sector. The minimum salary is £2.60 per hour. • Key benefits: • earn a salary • get paid holidays • receive training • gain qualifications. • learn job-specific skills.

5. How many people in Apprenticeships • 326,000 people starting an apprenticeship in nine months from 2010 to 2011. However, there were more people aged over 25 starting apprenticeships (121,000) than there were 16-18 year olds (102,900) and 19-24 year olds (102,800).

6. Job Seekers Allowance • Who is entitled to it; • Available for, capable of and actively seeking work • Aged over 18 but not State Pension age • Working less than 16 hours a week on average, but depend on your wage • In Great Britain • Jobseekers Allowance is not normally paid to 16 or 17 year olds, only in special circumstances.

7. The maximum rates are (Per Week); 16-24 years - £53.45 25 or over- £67.50 • If you are not free to accept work, if you do not look for training or work, or if you do not have a current jobseeker's agreement, you could be disqualified from receiving Jobseeker's Allowance. If you turn down work or leave a job or training without valid reason, you could also lose your Jobseeker's Allowance.

8. Aim; Helps them pay bills and provide food for themselves and their families. • Failures • People not turning up for appointments at job centre to discuss their progress • People failing to regularly look for work whilst that being a condition of the benefit.

9. Skill Seekers Allowance • Skill seekers allowance is a training initiative which allows young people to work towards an industry-recognised Scottish or National Vocational Qualification. • Some people are employed whilst training, while others are simply trainees. Skill seekers allowance is available to young people under 18. • Employers are encouraged to take part in the scheme because they get help with the costs of training. • Careers Scotland Centres can help young people who do not have a job