In April 2009 the new
Apprenticeship Scheme
was launched and offered to Third Sector
organisations through learn EAST and the
Suffolk Learning Consortium.
In June 2009 a meeting was held at Endeavour
House (Suffolk County Council) with reps
from Suffolk County Council, St Edmundsbury
Borough Council, West Suffolk College and
the Suffolk Learning Consortium to
investigate the possibility of shared
apprenticeships between the Public Sector
and Third Sector.
The Opportunity
- Get help with the initial cost of
taking on an apprentice (50% of minimum
wage for 6 months)
- Get expert advice on the ins and
outs of taking on an apprentice, plus
ongoing support
- Help us shape apprenticeships, and
other work opportunities, for young
people in Suffolk
The Bene fits
- 80% of employers who employ
apprentices agree they make the
workplace more productive
- 88% of employers who employ
apprentices believe that Apprenticeships
lead to a more motivated workforce
- one in five employers are hiring
apprentices to help them through the
current economic climate
- 81% of consumers sat they favour
using a business that takes on
apprentices
Case Study
Whilst the initial project had difficulty
in finding a voluntary organisation to take
on apprentices, in May 2010 we had our first
success:
Courtesy of Newmarket Weekly News
Project Details
In October 2009 the West Suffolk and East
Babergh Apprenticeships Pilot Project Team
was formed:
|
Project Team |
Andrew Goodall |
West Suffolk College, training
provision |
|
Esmee Wilcox / Michael Attwood |
Suffolk County Council, county
strategy and partnerships |
|
Louise Hammond |
St
Edmundsbury Borough Council, project
leader |
|
Mark
Parker |
Suffolk County Council, Project
Manager |
|
Michelle Gibson |
West Suffolk College, Scheme
Coordinator |
|
Employers |
Paul
Lowes |
Suffolk County Council |
|
Jeanette Bray/Jo Knight |
Babergh District Council |
|
Ken
Fish |
Small/Medium Enterprises |
|
Jonathan Redding / Ruth Littlechild |
Forest Heath District Council |
|
Michelle Kirk |
East of England Regional Assembly |
|
Hazel Pidsley |
West Suffolk Consortium for
Voluntary Organisations |
|
Deborah Tayler |
National Apprenticeships Scheme
Employer Services |
|
Simon Waldron |
Suffolk Association of Voluntary
Organisations |
| |
Masart |
|
Young People’s Interests |
Simon Pickering |
St
Edmundsbury Borough Council |
|
Sue
Barker / Kim Dyson / Anne Swain /
Denise Smith |
Suffolk County Council Connexions |
|
Tim
Mutum |
Babergh District Council |
|
Paul
Little |
Babergh District Council |
|
Keri
Bird |
Forest Heath District Council |
|
Economic Development |
Carol Rowntree / Jo Knight |
St
Edmundsbury Borough Council |
|
Sue
Dawes |
Babergh District Council |
|
James Talbot / Andrea Mayley |
St
Edmundsbury Borough Council |
|
Razaq Masart / Jonathan Redding /
Graham Lockley |
Forest Heath District Council |
|
Provision of Learning |
Kath
Ridealgh |
Suffolk County Council 14-19
Strategy |
|
Elizabeth Bray |
West Suffolk College |
|
Martyn Wagner |
West Suffolk College |
With funding
obtained from a number of sources, the
project was able to run a six month trial,
during which our target of 37 apprentices
was achieved and feedback from employers was
very positive.
In July 2010 we are hoping to hear that we
have been successful in bids for funding
which will allow us to continue the project,
in financing a co-ordinator at west Suffolk
College and providing 6 month wage
subsidies.
The project aligns with the new Governments
strategies and is currently being looked at
as 'Best Practice' at both Regional and
National level.
Contacts
| |
Suffolk Learning Consortium |
West Suffolk College |
|
Name: |
Simon Waldron |
Michelle
Gibson |
|
Telephone: |
01638 713778 |
01284 716388 |
|
Mobile: |
07808 952706 |
01284 638969 |
|
Email: |
simon@suffolklearningconsortium.org |
michelle.gibson@wsc.ac.uk |
|
