Agenda and minutes

To elect the Vice Chair for the remainder of the inquire.

RESOLVED that Councillor Furnell be elected as Vice-Chair of the Panel

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Inquiry Meetings held on 23^rd May, 2013 and 27^th June, 2013 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 23^rd May, 2013 and 27^th June 2013 be approved and signed as correct records.

Report of the Head of Communities, Change and Partnerships reviewing experiences of individual learners, careers advice and local support organisations, attached.

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 16^th October.
• World Schools Competition at the NEC – 14^th -16^th November
• Next National Apprenticeship Week – 3^rd to 7^th 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.