The Panel considered the report of the Head of
Communities, Change and Partnerships reviewing apprenticeship and
the experiences of individual learners, careers advice and local
support organisations.
Ian Smith, National Apprenticeship Service
(NAS) outlined work undertaken locally by the organisation:-
- Events within the City including
sessions during Apprenticeship Week, held at St Mary’s
Stadium.
- Work with ALPHI.
- Speed “dating” event at
the Civic Centre. Aimed at young people
not engaged. Workshops on completing
application forms, CVs and dealing with employers.
- Their website was very comprehensive
and they were also linked to Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites.
- Access to a bus that has been
equipped with lots of information for use as a drop-in
centre. Would like to utilise this more
and were currently bidding for more funding. Would need the local authority to agree to allow
the bus free space when it was in the city.
- Webinars – web based workshops
for stakeholders to dial in and learn “all they need to
know” about apprenticeships.
Members were encouraged to take part in one of these sessions and
provide feedback to a future meeting.
- Schools Festival on the
16th October.
- World Schools Competition at the NEC
– 14th -16th November
- Next National Apprenticeship Week
– 3rd to 7th March, 2014.
- Statistics were showing an increase
in the number of 19-24 year old apprentices and also higher and
advance apprenticeships. The numbers of
placements continue to increase.
Steve Grove, Lead Adviser, National Careers Hampshire and IOW, explained the
service that they provided:-
- Free service available for every
adult
- Provide online support for young
people. Only face to face if 19+ or 18
if in receipt of benefits. One session
per year unless in priority group whom were entitled to three
sessions.
- Co-located in every JobCentre Plus. Also in
some libraries. No location of their
own.
- Provision in schools was
patchy. They do not have any
involvement.
- Work with City College and Eastleigh
College.
- Need to consider what was “good careers advice”.
- No particular direction to promote
apprenticeships.
Seven apprentices from a range of levels and
ages gave information on their experiences of careers advice and of
apprenticeships:-
- Careers advice from schools
varied. Some students were given
positive information about apprenticeships; other received no
information at all and were only encouraged to continue
studing.
- Ability to continue studies whilst
on the apprenticeship, rather than being in full time
education.
- Ability to start studies at higher
levels if already have sufficient
qualification.
- Careers events at school need to
ensure that they have apprenticeship training providers in
attendance in order to be able to give students advice and
direction.
- Aspirations of some to go onto
University with the opportunity of the employer paying for this
once an advanced apprenticeship has been completed.
- Ability to gain qualifications to
the highest level within a chosen career.
- Decision to undertake apprenticeship
rather than continue full time studies
was often based on financial situation.
- Problem in some areas when trying to
be taken on as an older apprentice.
- View that schools only suggest
apprenticeships to those students not achieving academically.
- Being involved in the recruitment of
future apprentices.
- Many apprenticeships expect a high
academic level before young people would even be considered.
- Support given by the Rainbow Project
to give pre-apprenticeship opportunities to young people within
priority groups. Linked with a basic
literacy and numeracy course.
- Young people feeling as though they
have achieved. Gaining confidence.
- Pre-apprenticeship scheme linked
with the Council and Wheatsheaf
Trust.
- Pre-apprenticeship schemes were very
supportive and all had hopes of continuing onto a full
apprenticeship.
- Would be good for current
apprentices and those on pre-apprentice schemes to be involved in
promotional events. Better for young
people to talk to them about their experiences rather than the
older people involved.
- Importance of schools also promoting
apprenticeships to parents.