National Apprenticeship Service

South East

Information Bulletin

October 2009

In this issue:

Using Apprenticeship Vacancies – message from David Way, Deputy Chief Exec

Good for Business – Marketing Update

Part time Apprentices

Apprenticeship Vacancy Success

E-learning – System support

FOR INFORMATION

Apprenticeship vacancies – Framework Changes

Sainsburys Vacancies

Training

Contact Details

We hope you find this bulletin useful.  If there is anything you would like to see included in the next edition please contact Ellie Ulrich.

Using Apprenticeship Vacancies

It is now 9 months since the Apprenticeship vacancy system went live and I would like to thank all providers who have used the system, as well as to encourage those who have not yet used the system to do so.

Apprenticeship vacancies was a personal commitment by the Prime Minister who wanted a UCAS style clearing house arrangement for apprenticeships. The system is an important part of our commitment to make services simpler and less bureaucratic to access by bringing employers and their providers, and individuals, together via the web. The system will also provide valuable information on unmet need and school referrals so that we can better target our efforts.

The system helps new employers choose which learning provider to work with and offers flexibility of involvement - employers and their providers can use the system to manage the matching process against each vacancy advertised, or they can export the details to integrate within their current HR systems.

Headline feedback from three provider user groups and an interim evaluation research project overall points to the system being welcomed by both potential candidates and learning providers who are using the system.

Whilst we have made a good start, we do want to see all providers using the system to maximise the number of opportunities to meet the need from learners .We have stated that it is our intention to make the system a contractual requirement in provider contracts from the 2010-11 year.

David Way

Deputy Chief Executive, National Apprenticeship Service

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Good for Business – Marketing update

The National Apprenticeship Service launched the‘Good for Business’ Campaign on Thursday, October 22, which will run through till Nov and then resume again in January.

‘Good for Business’ will continue the idea that Apprenticeships bring business benefits for employers and will focus on two key messages:

• Apprenticeships increase productivity
• Apprenticeships improve efficiency

The campaign is designed to highlight the business benefits of Apprenticeships to employers, particularly those looking to take on apprentices aged to 16-18.

Using strong, simple messaging backed up by case studies we are targeting national and regional press advertising, PR, radio advertising, digital media and direct marketing. Copies of the adverts are available to download from Campaign Resources.

As part of the campaign we will launch research showing that consumers favour businesses who offer Apprenticeships, and we will be offering those companies who provide Apprenticeships an eBadge for their website or stationery to highlight to their customers their commitment to Apprenticeships.

The South East NAS are advertising in the following local papers w/c 26^th October for 2 weeks:

The leads generated will be brokered by the NAS Employer Services team and Business Link so make sure your profile on Apprenticeship vacancies Online is up to date. For more information please contact Laura Kennard or 01273 783583.

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Part Time Apprentices

We have recently received a number of queries in relation to payment of the £95 for employed apprentices and in particular how it applies to those learners undertaking part-time work.

The LSC Funding Guidance 2009/10 Update V4.0, Annex H Para 3 states ‘From 1^st August 2009 this becomes a minimum of at least £95 per week based on 30 to 35 hours per week. Pro-rata applies to part-time apprentices below 30 hours per week.’

Any apprentice employed in an organisation where the normal working week is between 30 and 35 hours is required to be paid £95.  The important factor to take into account is the normal working week for the employer/industry. How the days are worked doesn’t really matter but any off the job training must not reduce the overall hours to be paid.

Any apprentice employed in an organisation working less than 30 hours per week, or indeed more than 37 hours per week could be paid pro-rata. Again the important fact to consider is the normal working week for the employer/industry.

The Low Pay Commission are currently undertaking a review of wages for apprentices and the are due to report later in the year.

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Apprenticeship Vacancy Success!

XJ Restorations based in Eastbourne have recently used the new Apprenticeship Vacancies online to find an apprentice to work in their Jaguar workshop.

Tom Brown, Skills Advisor from Sussex Downs College visited XJ Restorations; he then helped get the information posted on the national database. Glen Purcell (17) from Polegate was chosen following a tough interview round from a shortlist of four candidates. Glen who is already working in the workshop will start in September a Level 2 NVQ Apprenticeship in motor vehicle at Eastbourne Vocational College (EVoC) part of Sussex Downs College.

The national online vacancies allows employers looking for an apprentice to advertise their requirements on the national database. Vacancies are marketed to the widest possible audience at no cost.

It then allows individuals to search and apply for apprenticeships which are available. The service offers a quick, easy and reliable path to apprenticeship vacancies across the whole of England.

Managing Director, Keith Parrington at XJ Restorations said: "I needed someone to come into the workshop and learn the craft of motor vehicle restoration. We were looking for a dedicated individual who is not only a potentially very good mechanic but also an individual who will appreciate and care for the cars that we have in the workshop. We have a world wide customer base and these vehicles are pretty special. Through the national matching service we made a short list of four people, and Glen met all our criteria."

Glen said: "I have been looking for an employer to re-start my career after my previous company closed its premises. This was the first time I had used the new service. I am really enjoying being part of the team here at XJ Restorations, I am not just learning how to service cars but how to rebuild them after they have been stripped to bare metal. I am also looking forward to starting at EVoC, as it is important to get qualifications which will reflect the standard of my knowledge plus going to college will also help me gain a wider experience."

Glen (left) pictured with Keith at XK Restorations

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E-Learning –  System support

A set of e-learning modules for Apprenticeship Vacancies online has been produced for Providers and these are now available on the Apprenticeships.org.uk website.

There are six topics that can either be used together sequentially to enable providers to get an overall understanding of the key aspects of using Apprenticeship vacancies, or alternatively they can be accessed individually if people want to focus in on a specific aspect, for example writing a vacancy advert.

Topics –

• Introduction to Apprenticeship vacancies
• The Learning Provider profile
• The Candidate’s view
• Writing a good vacancy advert
• Managing applications
• Conclusion

The topics cover a range of:

• Step by step guidance on how to use key functionality of the system
• Key learning exercises
• Business messages focussing in on important areas to think about or to do to support effective use of the system.

In addition there is an A-Z reference zone which contains a glossary and key steps associated with learning provider functionality.  This has been populated but will continue to be built on over the coming months.

To access the system click here and enter the login details below. Alternatively visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk, click on the partners tab and the link is on the bottom right hand side.

• Username – AppVacancies1
• Password – ProviderTopics1

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FOR INFORMATION

Apprenticeship Vacancies –  Framework Changes

Please note that the following framework has now been removed from Apprenticeship vacancies online.

Sector 08 Leisure, Travel and Tourism

• Framework 289 Events

You will see it now come up as ‘Pending’ as there are a couple of current live vacancies attached to this framework.

The following framework has now been added.

Sector 03 Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care

·  Framework 375 Horticulture

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Sainsburys Vacancies

It has recently come to our attention that a local Sainsbury store has been approached by an Apprenticeship training provider with a view of advertising vacancies on the Apprenticeship vacancies system.

Sainsbury’s have a national strategy in place for recruitment of staff and Apprenticeships in particular, and as such all recruitment should be co-ordinated by their head office and Gary Tovey, their Learning and Development Manager.

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Training

If you require training, please contact your Apprenticeship Vacancies Online Coordinator and they will be happy to arrange one to one training.

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Contact Details

Amanda Sayers, Learner Services Manager, Apprenticeship Vacancies Online - 0118 908 2210

Ellie Ulrich – 0118 908 2183 (West - Thames Valley, Hampshire)

Alison Williams – 01273 783579 (East - Surrey, Sussex, Kent)

Lorraine Costello – 01489 558540 (Mon-Thurs 9.30am-2.30pm)

Office cover hours – Monday-Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm.

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