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Apprenticeship Vacancies Online
Bulletin |
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September
2009 | |||||
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In this
issue: |
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Provider
Usage – Message from the Regional
Director Horsesmouth – Informal Online
Mentoring Apprenticeship vacancies –
Contract Clause Multiple Vacancies – Bulk
Uploads 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. | |||||
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Rachel McKellar – National
Apprenticeship Service Regional Director, South
East Many
providers who are already up and running on the system have commented on
the wide range of candidates they now attract, particularly 16-18 year
olds, which were previously hard to target. Using the system now, has
enabled them to develop the way they manage the system to ensure it is as
effective as possible and many employers have been impressed with the
service and would use it again. | |||||
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Vacancy Manager
User Groups |
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The next rounds of User
groups are quickly approaching, and to date we have not received many
responses. Super User groups are an ideal forum to work with other
providers and share ideas on how best to manage the system, feedback any
issues or concerns you have, and highlight any success stories you have.
It also allows us to up date you with changes to the system, collate
feedback, and work through any queries you
have. Dates
are: Kent and Medway –
29th September, 10-12, Hampshire – 1st
October, 10-12, Hampshire LSC There will also be a Super
User group for Connexions colleagues on 6th October 12.30 –
15.00 at the LSC offices in We look forward to seeing
as many of you there as possible. | |||||
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Following the recent “Golden
Ticket” campaign, we wanted to keep you up to date with other marketing
activity we have planned across the region and nationally. Here you will find
a copy of our Marketing schedule for the year, which details activities we
have planned, and when we plan to do them. We would ask that any marketing
activity you are intending to do on Apprenticeships is linked into plans
we have, and we will be asking you to be involved in a range of activities
to ensure maximum impact. Below you will find more information on
Apprenticeship Week 2010, and our involvement with Horsesmouth, two of the
main areas of marketing we are focussing on at the
moment. If you have any questions on
marketing activity or if you have any ideas that you would like to put
forward in conjunction with our plans, please contact Amanda
Sayers. | |||||
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Plans are now taking shape for
national Apprenticeship Week. We are keen to use the week to raise the
profile of the Apprenticeship Vacancy Online Service – particularly with
employers. Do you have a good, unusual and successful case study or story
which can highlight the benefits of the service across the south east? Do
you have any ideas for events to capture public and media attention?
Please email gene.amey@lsc.gov.uk
with your suggestions. | |||||
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“We were so pleased with
quality of candidates; we do not see a point in going anywhere else for
our recruitment needs. We were given excellent service and found the
perfect Apprentice!” CW Pro, working with Business
to Business “We are an engineering firm
based in Newbury, and have been recruiting Apprentices to replace our
ageing workforce for the last three years. We believe that it is extremely
important for our current employees to pass on their skills and knowledge
to younger generations, and with West Berkshire Training Consortium’s
support, we successfully recruited four 16-18 year old apprentices from
the advert placed on Apprenticeship vacancies online, and the diversity
and calibre of candidates we were able to select from was fantastic.
Applications for our Apprenticeships have never been so
high!” Plenty, working with West
Berkshire Training Consortium | |||||
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Horsesmouth – Informal
Online Mentoring |
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Earlier this month saw the launch
of a partnership between the National Apprenticeship Service and
horsesmouth.co.uk. This allows Apprentices, and those interested in
Apprenticeships, to receive informal one-to-one advice and support from
existing and former apprentices in a safe, moderated online
environment. It has been developed to provide an alternative support
service for people who may lack role models or mentors, or feel less
confident about accessing formal information
sites. We already have a
number of Apprentices who have registered to be mentors on the site but
want to encourage as many as possible to get involved. If you have anyone
who would be keen to pass on their knowledge and enthusiasm please ask
them to check out the site. As well as a chance to help others, it’s also
a useful addition to their CV. It’s simple to register and mentors can do
as much or as little as they want – and they can opt out at
anytime. Horsesmouth is a free to use, social networking
site for informal mentoring. It connects people seeking support and
guidance on a wide range of issues - education, career, work, family and
health - with others who are willing to give and share from the benefit of
their own experiences. It is open to anyone over 16 and users of the
site are anonymous. | |||||
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We have received a number of
comments from providers and employers saying that the quality of candidate
applications can sometimes be very poor. We have recently produced a “top
tips” guide to completing applications, and will be sending this out to
all 16-18 candidates who have been unsuccessful in previous applications
they have made. Information
includes: v
Using correct spelling, upper and lower case
letters and grammar v
Using appropriate email
addresses v
Including telephone numbers and having appropriate
voicemail messages v
Including all qualifications, and correct
grades/predicted grades v
Being realistic with applications and considering
travel/distance/working hours etc v
Providing as much information as possible in the
interests/strengths/additional questions. If you would like a copy of the
email to send to candidates, or to give to your clients, please email
Ellie
Ulrich. | |||||
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Apprenticeship
Vacancies – Contractual clause |
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Since the system went live in
January and during its development, we have always been clear that use of
the system would be a contractual requirement in the future. This is now
scheduled to take effect in 2010/11, and you can read a copy of the clause
here. | |||||
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Multiple
vacancies – Bulk uploads |
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Following the changes in release
three, we now have the facility to upload bulk vacancies across multiple
postcode locations. This facility is only suitable for 10 vacancies or
more, as the process for preparing these vacancies is done offline via a
spreadsheet which NAS support will then upload. Should you have multiple
vacancies that meet this criteria, please speak to your coordinator, who
will guide you through the process. | |||||
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Release
Four |
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Further upgrades to the system
are due in release four, and this is scheduled for December. Changes
include upgraded security and accessibility, Candidate housekeeping and a
variety of others. Final decisions on the exact changes and dates for the
release are still to be confirmed; however this will be covered in detail
at the upcoming Super Users groups. Please see above for dates, and
confirm your attendance with your
Coordinator. | |||||
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Successful
Candidates |
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Currently on the system there are
in excess of 480 vacancies which have had no action against them in the 60
days since the closing date. We are aware that a number of these are a
result of large numbers of applicants and lengthy recruitment processes,
but
we are concerned
that some candidates may be sat in the system for 60+ days without any
notification of how their application is progressing. Your coordinators
are monitoring this very closely, and will be contacting Vacancy Managers
to chase up why vacancies have not been completed.
Please go through your records
and make sure all vacancies that have been filled have a successful
candidate listed on the vacancy (either in the green box, or in the
offline section) and that you complete the vacancy. If you require any
support in making candidates successful and completing vacancies, please
contact your coordinator. | |||||
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Training |
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If you require training, please
contact your Apprenticeship vacancies Coordinator and they will be able to
arrange one to one training. | |||||
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Contact
Details |
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Amanda
Sayers, Learner
Services Manager, Apprenticeship vacancies on line - 0118 908
2210
Ellie
Ulrich – 0118
908 2183
Laura
Kennard – 01273 783583 Alison
Williams – 01273
783579
Lorraine
Costello – 01489 558540 (Mon-Thurs
9.30am-2.30pm) Office cover hours – Monday-Friday,
9.00am-5.00pm. Are we contacting the
right person? If you would like to add colleagues to this Bulletin, please
reply with their email. If you no longer wish to receive this bulletin,
please reply stating UNSUBSCRIBE. | |||||
