A collaborative bid led by Barnsley College has secured £1.16m of government funding to expand traineeship provision across the region. The initiative between Barnsley College and Independent Training Services Ltd. (ITS); RNN Group, The Sheffield College and DN Colleges Group aims to support up to 400 people aged 19-24 in gaining employability skills and work experience by 31 July 2021.
The March budget incentivised employers to provide traineeship placements with a £1,000 payment for each trainee they support. Progressing that trainee into an apprenticeship, or recruiting a new apprentice, offers up to £4,000 in additional incentive funding.
Traineeships present an opportunity for a person aged 19-24, to earn employability skills and work experience which will help them to secure employment or progress into higher level training. In addition, trainees get a taste of a specific occupation or sector and for some this could provide pathway into an alternative career path.
For employers, traineeships are an opportunity to assess candidates, perhaps prior to offering them permanent employment or progression into an apprenticeship which gives them role-specific knowledge, skills and behaviours.
The work placement element of a traineeship is expected to have a minimum duration of 70 hours, with programmes typically spread over several weeks and flexibility for more than one employer to engage a single trainee. Employability skills, Functional Skills and other relevant training which may be sector-specific, is blended into each trainee’s programme based on a skills assessment undertaken at the outset.
Contact us to discuss traineeships, apprenticeships and workforce development.
