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I expect you have seen a lot of news about Apprenticeships this month, and I thought I would write to you and let you know what else is planned for the coming months, particularly in relation to the third sector.
First of all, an exciting new advertising campaign highlighting how Apprenticeships “Make Things Happen” and featuring Sir Alan Sugar was launched on Monday 2 February 2009 and is the start of a campaign that will run until Sunday 1 March 2009. Although this campaign in aimed at all employers, we know that Apprenticeships are helping third sector organisations all over the country to realise their potential, and we want to expand the number of Apprenticeships in the third sector to continue this trend.
The second annual Apprenticeship Week took place between 23 and 27 February 2009. Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the essential role that Apprenticeships are playing today, ensuring that the workforce has the skills it needs in order to remain competitive, even in difficult economic circumstances. The focus this year was employers – providing opportunities for them to better understand Apprenticeships and how to engage with them and to demonstrate to employers that apprentices “Make Things Happen”.
Throughout Apprenticeship Week, events and awareness raising activities will take place across the country. There are third sector specific events in most regions, as well as a number of opportunities to find out more information through the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) and the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA). Please visit their websites during the week for further information on their activities.
If there is something that you could do during the Week to really help drive home the message that apprentices “Making Things Happen” in the third sector, please contact Cheryl Turner at the LSC (cheryl.turner@lsc.gov.uk).
Finally, the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) will launch in April 2009, led by newly appointed Chief Executive, Simon Waugh. The NAS will provide an end-to-end accountability for Apprenticeships that includes: Employer Services; Learner Services; and an online vacancy matching system. This new service will work closely with colleges and training providers delivering Apprenticeships, as well as with key stakeholders including the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Connexions and local authorities, the third sector and with employers themselves.
The new online vacancy matching system will provide an area where employers can advertise their Apprenticeship vacancies and where young people and adults looking for vacancies, can find Apprenticeship opportunities. The web based system is used by candidates, employers and training providers to facilitate and streamline the process of linking apprentices with employers in an efficient, effective and user friendly way. The online system can be accessed through: www.apprenticeships.org.uk
The service will drive forward the Government’s ambition for a renaissance in Apprenticeships, which brings a significant growth in the number of employers offering Apprenticeships and provides sufficient opportunities to enable one in every five young people to take up an Apprenticeship place.
This major change demonstrates the emphasis and importance that is being placed on ensuring that Apprenticeships are at the forefront of “Making Things Happen” in the lives of individuals and organisations across the country, including the third sector.
Yours,
Dame Mary Marsh
Chair, Working Together Advisory Group, LSC
LSC National Council Member |
