In support

........

........

........

........

........

....

..........................................................................................................................

1. Acknowledgement 12. Acknowledgement 23. Acknowledgement 34. Acknowledgement 4

etc

etc

...................................................................................Dangers to the future success of your business...

Increasing rise in local youth unemployment

Decreasing levelsof workforce

skills

Lack of investmentin the local area

Social Decline

HOW YOUR BUSINESS CAN HELPJoin other East Kent businesses in an exclusive club that aims to help reduce the dangerously high levels of local youth unemployment that threatens to endanger the future economic sucess of this region.

Ongoing Unemployment

Cycle

Training Solutions, Thanet College has created a scheme that helps businesses employ a young person, currently unemployed, as an apprentice. It is a cost effective and simple process which will deliver benefits in terms of productivity and profitability to the business, provide work experience and a qualification to the young person which in turn will help to support and grow the local economy.

........................................................................................................................................................................................

....................................................Taking on an Apprentice...

European Social Funding is available toassist small to medium sized businesses

Whats inside...

page 3

Apprenticeship Grants are available for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds

page 3

Taking on an apprentice : Why it matters page 2

of apprenticeshipsEAST KENTBUSINESSES

....................................................................................................................................................................Acknowledging your contribution

..............................................................................................................................

EAST KENTBUSINESSES

This campaign is supported by

www.thanet.ac.uk/training_solutions

..........................................................................................................................During National Apprenticeship Week Thanet College called on all businesses within Thanet to consider taking on an apprentice in 2012, in an attempt to tackle the continued rise in youth unemployment, which has lead to Thanet having the highest rate of youth unemployment in the South East. The numbers of young people who are now unemployed have reached the million mark nationally, the highest rate in twenty years and there is no sign that things are about to get better. One way in which local businesses can take on a young person is through an apprenticeship, where the employer gains someone bespoke to their needs and in a cost-effective way(limited to a commitment of one year in many cases) and the employee gains on the job training, vital job-specific skills and qualifications that are crucial to career progress. Apprenticeships can bring increased productivity and develop a workforce needed both now and into the future, bringing fresh talent, new thinking and filling skill gaps. Thanet College’s business division, Training Solutions can offer assistance in achieving this.

........................................................................................................................................................................................

Take on an ApprenticeWhy it matters

Kirsty Bryant, Head of Training Solutions is passionate about her organisation’s ability to help improve things for Thanet and East Kent she said “there is a growing consensus that without further action we risk a creating a ‘lost generation’ of young people in this country. Obviously the situation is multiplied in this region due to higher rates of youth unemployment than average. These people will be shut out of the labour market and increasingly disconnected from the world of work or learning – this will over time have an impact on local skills levels, which in turn will have a knock effect on the success of existing business as well as our ability to successfully attract new employers to the area. Should this situation occur it would limit employment opportunities more generally and ultimately reduce people’s quality of life and environment which has far reaching and long lasting implications and will impact on every man, women and child living in this area – it’s as serious as that”

Mrs Bryant continued “ I urge all businesses in Thanet, both big and small to give Training Solutions a call – even if you don’t think an apprentice is for you or you don’t think you can afford one at the moment – there are so many government grants and incentives available at present and I am confident we can help find a solution that can benefit your business and thus subsequently help support our local economy”.

David Foley, Chief Executive of Thanet and East Kent Chamber of Commerce, says that Training Solutions is making taking on an apprentice is easier than ever. “Nine out of ten companies in Thanet have fewer than 20 workers. In the past, these firms may have dismissed the opportunity to take on an apprentice as being too cumbersome, too time-consuming or too much like hard work. With the procedures being outlined by organisations such as Training Solutions at Manston, the administrative burden is significantly reduced so that even quite small enterprises can see an immediate benefit. We urge all companies in Thanet to consider the new apprenticeship schemes and so discover how their operations, margins and future prospects can be improved with the addition of an on-site apprentice,” he said.

What is an Apprenticeship?

An Apprenticeship is a job with training and qualifications. As well as the work based training given on the job by the employer, and Apprentice will work towards achievement of qualifications. Generally an Apprenticeship programme will include:O An NVQ or equivalentO A knowledge based qualification (technical certificate)O Key Skills - numeracy, literacy, ICT

Who can be an Apprentice?

An Apprentice can be a young person from 16-18, or an adult from 19 upwards. They can be new starters in your organisation or people already working for you.They can be fresh out of school, highly educated advanced trainees or experienced staff consolidating or gaining new skills. The mixture of on andoff job training ensures they learn the skills that work best for your business.

..........................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................................................

What does it cost?

If the Apprentice is a new employee, you pay them at least £2.60 p/h for the first year. After that, if they are 19 or over, they become entitled to the national minimum wage. 16-18 year olds can still be paid the Apprenticeship rate.

How long is the contract?

Most Apprenticeships are one year long, but some are two years. For example, motor vehicle apprenticeships are two years long. A year at each qualification level.

..........................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................

Training also has a cost. If they are 16-18 years old, training is entirely paid for by the government. If they are 19 or over, you are theiremployer must pay a share. Here at Training Solutions, we ask for a contribution of £500 per year towards training costs.

........................................................................................................................................................................................What kind of businesses have Apprenticeships?

There are Apprenticeships in all kinds of businesses. We can support a wide range from catering to construction, cleaning and careto business administration. There are over 130 apprenticeship schemes.All types of businesses take apprenticeships, from micro (1 or 2 employees) to large corporate companies from just about every sector.

APPRENTICESHIP GRANTS & INCENTIVES

Employer IncentiveApprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds (AGE)The AGE (16 to 24) grant is aimed at helping employers to offer young people employment through the Apprenticeshipprogramme by providing wage grants to assist employers in recruiting their first apprentice. The National Apprenticeship Service will provide up to 40,000 apprenticeship grants to small and medium sized employers (less than 250 employees) recruiting 16 to 24 year olds with a value of £1500 to encourage employers to take on new apprentices (up to a maximum of 3 per employer).The £1500 is in addition to the training costs of the Apprentice framework which are met in full for young people aged 16 to 18 and 50% for those aged 19 to 24. The AGE funding is available now until March 2013 for employers who are able to offer a job opportunity to a young person they recruit. The grant of £1500 is payable in two instalmentsVince Cable said he was "very proud" the government had prioritised investment in apprenticeships during a time of financial constraint. On launching the initiative, Business Secretary Vince Cable said "Apprenticeships are at the centre of the government's skills policy because we know that they work," he said. "Not only do they provide individuals with the skills they need for prosperous and rewarding careers, they also boost businesses' profits and drive growth in the wider economy".

Skills and Apprenticeship support for business European Social Funding is available until June 2012 to assist small to medium sized businesses (1 to 249 employees) with the costs of taking on an apprentice. Up to £2500 is available for each apprentice, depending on their salary level.The apprentice must be between 19 to 24 years old and enrolled on a Training Solutions Apprenticeship scheme. The employer must have previously employed an apprentice OR it has been 12 months since they last took on an apprentice OR the new apprentice is additional to other apprentices. This funding is additional Apprenticeship Framework funding which covers the costs of enrolment and training if the apprentice is 16 to 18 or contributes 50% of the costs if the apprentice is 19 to 24 years old. There are limited places available and employers are advised to move quickly if they wish to receive this funding.

Have some blue sky thinking...

Apprentice todaytake on an

..........................................................................................................................During National Apprenticeship Week Thanet College called on all businesses within Thanet to consider taking on an apprentice in 2012, in an attempt to tackle the continued rise in youth unemployment, which has lead to Thanet having the highest rate of youth unemployment in the South East. The numbers of young people who are now unemployed have reached the million mark nationally, the highest rate in twenty years and there is no sign that things are about to get better. One way in which local businesses can take on a young person is through an apprenticeship, where the employer gains someone bespoke to their needs and in a cost-effective way(limited to a commitment of one year in many cases) and the employee gains on the job training, vital job-specific skills and qualifications that are crucial to career progress. Apprenticeships can bring increased productivity and develop a workforce needed both now and into the future, bringing fresh talent, new thinking and filling skill gaps. Thanet College’s business division, Training Solutions can offer assistance in achieving this.

........................................................................................................................................................................................

Take on an ApprenticeWhy it matters

Kirsty Bryant, Head of Training Solutions is passionate about her organisation’s ability to help improve things for Thanet and East Kent she said “there is a growing consensus that without further action we risk a creating a ‘lost generation’ of young people in this country. Obviously the situation is multiplied in this region due to higher rates of youth unemployment than average. These people will be shut out of the labour market and increasingly disconnected from the world of work or learning – this will over time have an impact on local skills levels, which in turn will have a knock effect on the success of existing business as well as our ability to successfully attract new employers to the area. Should this situation occur it would limit employment opportunities more generally and ultimately reduce people’s quality of life and environment which has far reaching and long lasting implications and will impact on every man, women and child living in this area – it’s as serious as that”

Mrs Bryant continued “ I urge all businesses in Thanet, both big and small to give Training Solutions a call – even if you don’t think an apprentice is for you or you don’t think you can afford one at the moment – there are so many government grants and incentives available at present and I am confident we can help find a solution that can benefit your business and thus subsequently help support our local economy”.

David Foley, Chief Executive of Thanet and East Kent Chamber of Commerce, says that Training Solutions is making taking on an apprentice is easier than ever. “Nine out of ten companies in Thanet have fewer than 20 workers. In the past, these firms may have dismissed the opportunity to take on an apprentice as being too cumbersome, too time-consuming or too much like hard work. With the procedures being outlined by organisations such as Training Solutions at Manston, the administrative burden is significantly reduced so that even quite small enterprises can see an immediate benefit. We urge all companies in Thanet to consider the new apprenticeship schemes and so discover how their operations, margins and future prospects can be improved with the addition of an on-site apprentice,” he said.

What is an Apprenticeship?

An Apprenticeship is a job with training and qualifications. As well as the work based training given on the job by the employer, and Apprentice will work towards achievement of qualifications. Generally an Apprenticeship programme will include:O An NVQ or equivalentO A knowledge based qualification (technical certificate)O Key Skills - numeracy, literacy, ICT

Who can be an Apprentice?

An Apprentice can be a young person from 16-18, or an adult from 19 upwards. They can be new starters in your organisation or people already working for you.They can be fresh out of school, highly educated advanced trainees or experienced staff consolidating or gaining new skills. The mixture of on andoff job training ensures they learn the skills that work best for your business.

..........................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................................................

What does it cost?

If the Apprentice is a new employee, you pay them at least £2.60 p/h for the first year. After that, if they are 19 or over, they become entitled to the national minimum wage. 16-18 year olds can still be paid the Apprenticeship rate.

How long is the contract?

Most Apprenticeships are one year long, but some are two years. For example, motor vehicle apprenticeships are two years long. A year at each qualification level.

..........................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................

Training also has a cost. If they are 16-18 years old, training is entirely paid for by the government. If they are 19 or over, you are theiremployer must pay a share. Here at Training Solutions, we ask for a contribution of £500 per year towards training costs.

........................................................................................................................................................................................What kind of businesses have Apprenticeships?

There are Apprenticeships in all kinds of businesses. We can support a wide range from catering to construction, cleaning and careto business administration. There are over 130 apprenticeship schemes.All types of businesses take apprenticeships, from micro (1 or 2 employees) to large corporate companies from just about every sector.

APPRENTICESHIP GRANTS & INCENTIVES

Employer IncentiveApprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds (AGE)The AGE (16 to 24) grant is aimed at helping employers to offer young people employment through the Apprenticeshipprogramme by providing wage grants to assist employers in recruiting their first apprentice. The National Apprenticeship Service will provide up to 40,000 apprenticeship grants to small and medium sized employers (less than 250 employees) recruiting 16 to 24 year olds with a value of £1500 to encourage employers to take on new apprentices (up to a maximum of 3 per employer).The £1500 is in addition to the training costs of the Apprentice framework which are met in full for young people aged 16 to 18 and 50% for those aged 19 to 24. The AGE funding is available now until March 2013 for employers who are able to offer a job opportunity to a young person they recruit. The grant of £1500 is payable in two instalmentsVince Cable said he was "very proud" the government had prioritised investment in apprenticeships during a time of financial constraint. On launching the initiative, Business Secretary Vince Cable said "Apprenticeships are at the centre of the government's skills policy because we know that they work," he said. "Not only do they provide individuals with the skills they need for prosperous and rewarding careers, they also boost businesses' profits and drive growth in the wider economy".

Skills and Apprenticeship support for business European Social Funding is available until June 2012 to assist small to medium sized businesses (1 to 249 employees) with the costs of taking on an apprentice. Up to £2500 is available for each apprentice, depending on their salary level.The apprentice must be between 19 to 24 years old and enrolled on a Training Solutions Apprenticeship scheme. The employer must have previously employed an apprentice OR it has been 12 months since they last took on an apprentice OR the new apprentice is additional to other apprentices. This funding is additional Apprenticeship Framework funding which covers the costs of enrolment and training if the apprentice is 16 to 18 or contributes 50% of the costs if the apprentice is 19 to 24 years old. There are limited places available and employers are advised to move quickly if they wish to receive this funding.

Have some blue sky thinking...

Apprentice todaytake on an

In support

........

........

........

........

........

....

..........................................................................................................................

1. Acknowledgement 12. Acknowledgement 23. Acknowledgement 34. Acknowledgement 4

etc

etc

...................................................................................Dangers to the future success of your business...

Increasing rise in local youth unemployment

Decreasing levelsof workforce

skills

Lack of investmentin the local area

Social Decline

HOW YOUR BUSINESS CAN HELPJoin other East Kent businesses in an exclusive club that aims to help reduce the dangerously high levels of local youth unemployment that threatens to endanger the future economic sucess of this region.

Ongoing Unemployment

Cycle

Training Solutions, Thanet College has created a scheme that helps businesses employ a young person, currently unemployed, as an apprentice. It is a cost effective and simple process which will deliver benefits in terms of productivity and profitability to the business, provide work experience and a qualification to the young person which in turn will help to support and grow the local economy.

........................................................................................................................................................................................

....................................................Taking on an Apprentice...

European Social Funding is available toassist small to medium sized businesses

Whats inside...

page 3

Apprenticeship Grants are available for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds

page 3

Taking on an apprentice : Why it matters page 2

of apprenticeshipsEAST KENTBUSINESSES

....................................................................................................................................................................Acknowledging your contribution

..............................................................................................................................

EAST KENTBUSINESSES

This campaign is supported by

www.thanet.ac.uk/training_solutions