LSIS Seeks To Boost Uptake Of Disabled Apprentices

Posted on May 21, 2013 by stephensmyth

The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) is in the midst of its latest initiative aimed at encouraging employers and training providers to take on apprentices with disabilities. Acting in partnership with Remploy Employment Services, the LSIS is addressing issues through two workshops this week, one held on Monday and another scheduled for Thursday. Three other workshops on the subject were organised earlier this year and proved extremely successful. The LSIS will be closed on 31 July 2013 but Remploy, the specialist employment support services provider, is hoping to secure a sponsor and continue to deliver such workshops across the country.

The seminars focus on concerns that might discourage employers and training providers from recruiting apprentices with disabilities. A survey commissioned by the National Apprenticeship Service in 2011 identified some of those concerns. Remploy, which carried out the research, established that employers were often deterred from taking on disabled apprentices for fear of an overwhelming regulatory burden with regard to health and safety. Some were also concerned that the apprentices would drop out of the programme, which could affect the company’s business plans. Through these workshops, the LSIS and Remploy seek to address existing concerns by informing providers how to get extra support and funding for disabled apprentices, as well as increase the number of disabled learners in apprenticeship programmes by using employer engagement strategies.

Remploy business consultant Howard Nelson said the organisation was hoping to carry on the work started by the LSIS although the workshops may not be free in the future if a sponsor is not found. The success of the events organised so far has prompted Remploy to consider a national conference on disabled apprentices, which is scheduled to take place in September.

Finalists For Brathay Apprentice Challenge Announced

Posted on April 30, 2013 by stephensmyth

The Brathay Trust charity has shortlisted the finalists for this year’s Brathay Apprentice

Successful ATG Training Apprentices

Challenge, which seeks the best apprenticeship team in the UK. The eight finalists were selected among 800 individual apprentices from 90 apprenticeship employers, training providers and colleges from across the country.

The finalists were announced by skills minister Matthew Hancock and include Broadland Council Training Services (BCTS), a Norfolk-based team of apprentices from local small businesses, as well as Burnley Borough Council, last year’s winners aerospace company Cobham, Cumbria-based packaging manufacturer Innovia Films, Norwich facilities management firm Norse Group, Plymouth City Council and Unilever.

Over the past two months, applicants took part in more than 60 community projects and 280 school visits to educate young people about the benefits of being an apprentice for a person’s career development and qualifications.

The Brathay Apprentice Challenge is supported by the National Apprenticeship Service and aims to find the best apprentices in terms of non-technical work skills and personal attributes. The shortlisted finalists will take part in further fundraising and awareness raising activities in May before the winner is announced at the final event, which will be held at Brathay Trust’s headquarters in Windermere on 10-12 June.

Matthew Hancock commented that all apprentices that participated in the Challenge this year have demonstrated the remarkable ambition and dedication they deliver to their employers on a daily basis. The selected finalists can be a real inspiration to young people who are thinking of becoming apprentices, he added.

New Report Stresses Importance Of Apprenticeships For Building Future Skills Base

Posted on April 25, 2013 by stephensmyth

In 2008, Cranfield School of Management and e-learning provider learndirect published a report called “Nurturing Talent: building the workforce of the future.” Five years later they have taken another look at the situation, focusing on youth employment and the role of apprenticeships in the overall picture. The new report concludes that apprenticeships are vital for building a sustainable UK labour force and creating employment opportunities for more people. It also stresses the importance of stepping up efforts to promote the benefits of vocational training and of getting employers actively involved in such efforts.

The survey conducted by Cranfield School of Management established that 70% of employers had yet to act on the issue of tackling potential skill shortages in the next decade or two. Although many agree that apprenticeships can make a big contribution to addressing that problem, only 7% of respondents said they had encountered no problems with securing the right youngsters for positions that need filling. The survey found that 21% of employers had apprentices on their staff, with 32% in that group declaring that training programmes provided an effective way of dealing with the dearth of technical talent.

Dr Emma Parry, who wrote the report, pointed out that apprenticeships do more than just allow companies to solve their skills problem. The evidence suggests that having apprentices on board can boost employee morale, strengthen commitment and improve retention rates. It can also reduce recruitment costs and help a company establish a reputation as a good employer, Dr Parry said.

Stephen Smyth- Marketing Manager at ATG Training, welcomed the new report and pointed to the the Government committment to vocational training. Apprenticeship training is funded by Goverment and there is currently an incentive of up to £15,000 for employers who recruit new Apprentices Smyth continued.

Employer Event for companies seeking Apprentices

Posted on April 17, 2013 by stephensmyth

Following on from the high profile National Apprenticeship Week, ATG Training held an employer event on 16th April.

24 employers attended with several taking the opportunity to discuss their recruitment requirements for this year. With so many high profile companies seeking to add to their workforce with new #Apprentices this year it pays to register on www.atgapprenticeships.com to be kept informed of the latest opportunities as they arise.

Civil Service Offers 100 Apprenticeship Places

Posted on April 16, 2013 by stephensmyth

A new apprenticeship scheme was launched by the Civil Service this week.

Roles are on offer across a variety of departments including the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Justice, HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions, Crown Prosecution Service and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Potential apprentice jobs available through the Civil Service Apprenticeship Scheme include working in a minister’s private office, providing advice to jobseekers as a personal adviser in a Jobcentre, or developing or implementing policy.

As part of the scheme, apprentices will work towards a Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in Business and Professional Administration. The minimum starting salary is £18,763.

There are 100 apprentice vacancies, which are open to school leavers aged 18-21. Successful applicants will join as a management grade, which means that they could manage a colleague or a team in addition to their primary role.

The application period is expected to run from 15-26 April but anyone who is interested should apply as soon as possible because applications will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis depending on the level of interest. If a significant number of people apply the application process will be closed early, the Civil Service said.

Applicants must have five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English language and maths, and able to start in September 2013.

Apprenticeships Event for Engineering Employers

Posted on April 4, 2013 by stephensmyth

We are holding an Apprenticeships Event for Engineering Employers at our head office on Tuesday 16th April 2013, starting at 4pm. Whether you already work with us or would like to know more about Apprenticeships, this is an event you should attend! Come and see our facilities, talk to our trainers and hear first-hand from our students the advantages of being an apprentice and how they have benefited their companies. To book your place, call 0845 894 9530 of e-mail: future@atg-training.co.uk.

NIACE Raises Concern Over Future Of Apprenticeships For Over-25s

Posted on April 4, 2013 by stephensmyth

The UK government has made apprenticeship reforms a priority, declaring them as important as changes planned for schools and universities. In his Budget speech, Chancellor George Osborne referred to the reforms as “probably the single most important long-term economic policy” the government is pursuing. Having responded to the Richard Review of the apprenticeship system, the government has launched a consultation on its proposals for improving standards and promoting the uptake of apprenticeships. While NIACE (the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) welcomes the steps taken in that direction, it is concerned that most of the attention falls on apprentices aged 16 to 24, leaving older trainees at a great disadvantage.

In an article published on FE News, NIACE project officer for apprenticeships Ian Bond points out that several months from now public funding will not be available for people who undertake an Intermediate or Advanced Apprenticeship at the age of 25 or above. As of August, trainees in that age group will be eligible for public funding only if they are doing a Level 3 apprenticeship or higher. In that case, they can seek funding support through a 24+ Adult Learning Loan. Grants will be available only for 25+ apprentices participating in an Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot.

Bond goes on to note that it makes no sense to focus exclusively on the funding needs of the 16-24 age group considering demographic shifts and the UK’s rapidly ageing population. People aged 25 and above should have their needs recognised or the steady erosion in part-time and mature higher education participation could be mirrored in Level 2 and 3 vocational training, Bond adds.

UK Government Plans To Put Apprenticeship Design In Employers’ Hands #NAW2013

Posted on March 15, 2013 by stephensmyth

The UK government announced yesterday that it had launched a consultation on its plans to overhaul the apprenticeship system. The proposals have been formulated in response to the independent review carried out last year by Doug Richard. At the heart of the government’s plan is the idea to put employers in charge, more specifically allow them to set their own standards and qualifications for apprenticeships. In this way, apprenticeships would be tailored to specific skill needs and would realise their full potential as economic drivers, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said.

Richard published his report last November, calling for greater quality of apprenticeships and a stronger focus on employer needs. According to the findings of the review, many companies were reluctant to take on trainees because they thought apprenticeships were not designed with their specific requirements in mind. Considering the benefits apprenticeships offer for all parties involved, it is vital that all barriers be removed so that companies can embrace vocational training wholeheartedly and thus ensure their future success.

Clegg described apprenticeships as a core element in the government’s strategy to strengthen the UK economy. Apprenticeships provide employers with the skilled workforce they need to operate competitively and profitably in the global market. For young people, vocational training can be the stepping stone to their dream job.

The deputy PM went on to add that most companies reported higher productivity after taking on apprentices, so it is crucial to have training programmes that address employers’ specific needs. This can be achieved by allowing businesses to design their own set of qualifications and select a training provider rather than adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, which is bad for both employers and apprentices, Clegg said.

Former ATG Apprentice Andy Neate Makes It Into Hall Of Fame

Posted on March 14, 2013 by stephensmyth

At the age of 16, many people have no clear idea of what they want to do in life. It is possible that Andy Neate had no idea as well, but the Aylesbury lad has come a long way since then. While many people will know him as a BTCC driver, Andy is in the focus this week for his remarkable achievements as an engineer. The seeds of that success were sown when he left school at 16 and started an engineering apprenticeship with ATG Training. Andy is now chief technology officer of Ceravision and the proud inventor of the ground-breaking high efficiency plasma (HEP) technology. He is also among the inductees to the Apprenticeship Hall of Fame, sharing the honour with a group of successful Britons whose glittering careers began with apprenticeships, IP Tech Race Engineering reports.

Andy is in the company of former apprentices like celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay, Olympic gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington, gardening expert and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh and Mercedes Formula One team principal Ross Brawn. This eclectic mix reflects the diverse opportunities and enormous potential of apprenticeships as a career starting point.

Andy firmly believes that his resounding success as an engineer is rooted in his beginnings as an electronics apprentice. He does not believe he would be in his present position without the support and guidance received during his training. Andy has remained a staunch advocate of apprenticeships and will continue to promote this career route. As a former apprentice and a current employer, he will bring his experience to bear as patron of a national engineering apprenticeship organisation that is expected to launch this summer.

Apprenticeships To Give UK Economy £3.4bn Annual Boost By 2022

Posted on March 13, 2013 by stephensmyth

National Apprenticeship Week (#NAW2013) is in full swing and a newly published report comes as a reminder of how important apprenticeships are for UK companies and the economy as a whole. According to estimates by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), the UK economy stands to make net productivity gains of £3.4 billion annually by 2022.

The CEBR report, which is available on the National Apprenticeship Service website, was released on Monday to coincide with the start of the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week. The independent economics consultancy has come up with the figure after estimating the productivity gains from 3.8 million apprentices who will complete their training in the decade ahead.

According to the publication, the average productivity contribution of an apprenticeship completer amounts to £214 weekly. The CEBR forecasts that 260,000 apprenticeships will be completed in 2012/2013 and the number will reach 480,000 by 2021/2022. The greatest beneficiaries are companies operating in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, where weekly productivity gains are estimated at £414 for each former apprentice. The annual number of completed apprenticeships in these sectors will grow from 38,000 to 81,000 between 2012/2013 and 2021/2022.

Charles Davis, CEBR head of macroeconomics, pointed out that the research left no doubt about the importance of apprenticeships to UK economic growth. Comments to that effect were also made by Business Secretary Vince Cable, who stated that the report gave a clear indication of the benefits apprenticeships deliver for businesses, individuals and the wider economy. Cable added that as part of its drive to make vocational training more accessible, the government is offering a £1,500 cash grant to small and medium-sized enterprises that recruit an apprentice aged under 24. National Apprenticeship Week is an excellent opportunity to make more employers aware that apprentices make a significant contribution to company skillsets and productivity, Cable said.

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