Apprentices deliver real value to businesses and there has never been a better time to recruit than now, when the Government are offering a £1,500 Grant to employers who recruit new apprentices. 

As the employer you are able torecieve the first part of the Grant of £750 at the 8 week stage of the Apprenticeship, with the second £750 when the apprentice has completed 12 months of their Apprenticeship.

As you would expect there are some eligibility criteria to meet before you can take advantage of this Grant, however we will jump through the administration hoops for you. Call us on 0845 894 9530 for more information.

Cytech Retail Skills programme will also help staff develop the skills necessary to ensure that their shop is efficient, customer-focused and profitable.

All training is delivered at the place of work of the person who is learning the enhanced skills and delivered by our talented and experienced Cytech Training Officers. This is in order for the training to be specific to your business and take account of the daily working environment that is relevant to your company.

Cytech Retail Skills
A Retail Apprenticeship is the ideal qualification for all employees over the age of 16 working within a retail environment role such as sales advisors, customer service advisors, product experts and any similar roles.
This Level 2 Diploma in Retail Skills equips learners with the fundamental skills to operate efficiently in a retail environment, working effectively as part of a focused retail team. The units making up the Retail Apprenticeship programme include:
• Give customers a positive impression of yourself and your organisation
• Help customers choose products in a retail environment
• Provide information and advice to customers in a retail environment
• Work effectively in your retail team
• Understanding customer service in the retail sector
• Understanding the retail selling process
• Understanding how individuals and teams contribute to the effectiveness of a retail business
• Understanding how a retail business maintains health and safety on its premises
• Understanding security and loss prevention in a retail business
• Understanding the handling of customer payments in a retail business

The Apprenticeship is supported by Government funding and will provide recognised skills in the retail environment.  An employer contribution is required; however we work with employers to secure the maximum amount of funding available. Our friendly team is ready to answer any questions and help get a course started which will lay firm foundations for a future in retail.

Do your research!

Go through all the details you have about the job and the company; go to their website and learn more about what they do, how they do it, who they work with and what their aims are.

We have opportunities in Finance, Customer Service, Business & Administration and Manufacturing.

Apply now!

Future Centre

Last night the Government confirmed an incentive of a £1,500 Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds. More details are on our website www.atg-training.co.uk

Ian Harper

Fact Sheet – February 2012
The AGE 16 to 24 is aimed at helping eligible employers to offer young people employment  hrough the Apprenticeship programme, by providing wage grants to assist them in recruiting their first apprentice.

The National Apprenticeship Service will provide up to 40,000 Apprenticeship Grants to small medium size employers recruiting 16 to 24 year olds with a value of £1,500, to encourage new employers to take on new 16 to 24 year old apprentices. Priority will be given to small-medium size employers with less than 50 employees.

When will AGE 16 to 24 be available?
The AGE 16 to 24 is available now until March 2013 for employers offer a job opportunity to a young person they recruit. Funding will start from 1 April 2012. However eligible employers who have employed a new apprentice from 1 February 2012 will be able to apply for the grant, subject to all the other eligibility criteria.

The employer is able to receive the grant of £750 at the 8 week stage of the Apprenticeship, with the second £750 when the apprentice has completed 12 months of their Apprenticeship.

Which employers are eligible to receive this new AGE 16 to 24 payment?
Small and medium sized employers who are interested in employing an apprentice for the first time, or who have previously employed an apprentice more than 3 years ago.
Employers will sign an agreement which will include:

1. Confirmation of the number of apprentices they will be taking on as a result of this incentive (to a maximum of 3)
2. Confirmation that they wouldn’t have taken the apprentice on without this additional incentive
3. A commitment to employ the apprentice for at least the time it takes to achieve the Apprenticeship framework. If they fail to do this some or all the grant will be clawed back
4. Confirmation that they are aware of and do not breach any state aid rule
5. Agreement to pay the minimum Apprenticeship wage of £2.60 per hour – although most apprentices receive more than this
6. Confirmation that they have not taken on an apprentice in the previous three years.

Can existing employees starting an Apprenticeship programme within their existing employer attract the incentive?

No – the aim is to support employers to create new and additional jobs for 16 to 24 year olds.

Why is this support only available for 16 to 24 year olds?

We know that 16 to 24 year olds are more likely to be unemployed or economically inactive than older people.
Key Facts and Figures – 16 to 24 year olds in the labour market:

• The unemployment total for 16 to 24 year olds hit a record high of 1.02 million in the quarter, a jobless rate of 21.9%.
• The number of 16 to 24 year olds not in education, employment or training is approaching 26% (Q2 2010).

There are oportunities in fashion, marketing, gardening and manufacturing.

If you need any advice, call 0845 8949530 and we’ll be happy to help!

• BBC Radio Oxford
• Big L
• BBC Radio London
• www.AdferoNews.com
• Inspiration Fm
• 106 JACK FM Oxfordshire
• Represzent 107.3

If you are in the High Wycombe area, come and see us at the Job Centre Apprenticeship Fair being held in the AMF Bowling Centre from 2pm to 4pm this afternoon. We’ll be able to answer all your Apprenticeship-related questions and discuss our current vacancies with you.

See you there!

There was a much larger bike presence than the previous year, with the cycle’s area dominating a whole hall.

The ACT were at the show to promote WorkRiders, the new cycling to work programme, and ATG Training, ActSmart’s partner Cytech provider.

The ACT partnered with the London Bike Show to support the Cycling Stage which was host to Cytech demonstrations delivered by ATG Training, guest speakers and auctions throughout the four day show.

 
Cytech Technical Advice ActSmart’s runner up Partner of the Year 2011, and Cytech Training Providers, ATG Training were on hand at the Cycling Stage to offer technical advice and carry out demonstrations. The demos were a huge success with crowds gathering to learn about everything from preparing your bike for commuting to truing a wheel.

 After watching Cytech demos, visitors were glad to learn that it has never been easier to get qualified as a cycle mechanic, with Cytech Technical One Theory now available completely online, and until the end of February, with 50% off the price.

The interest in Cytech courses was evident through ATG’s prize draw to win home mechanic gear, with over 1000 entries received. 

Of all the completed entries received the first to be drawn by the independent adjudicator was:

Mr David Coxhead. Proprietor, Bristows Cycles

David wins the Wheel Truing stand 

Park Tools Wheel truing stand

Mr Robin Warr
from Greenich – London
Robin wins the Advanced Park Tools mechanic kit

Park Tools Advanced Mechanic Tool Kit