Traineeships

Supporting young people into Apprenticeships and other jobs

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Discussion Paper

• Government launched proposals on 10th Jan 2013• We sought views of wide range of stakeholders –

receiving an excellent and positive response• Over 450 responses received from employers,

training providers and other organisations• Discussion process included a series of

roundtable events with stakeholders

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What was proposed?Objective: • to support young people who require additional help in

order to be able to compete for Apprenticeships or other sustainable employment

Solution:• Traineeships consisting of (i) work experience placement;

(ii) work preparation training; and (iii) English and Maths for those who need it;

• Flexible delivery models• Part of the Apprenticeships ‘family’

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Responses to the Discussion Paper

• Widespread support for overall aim• Further clarity on target group required• Need for a small, well-defined core• Importance of local discretion to add flexible

content• Strong consensus for high-quality work experience

placement element• Importance of employer/education collaboration• Simple

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Who would undertake a Traineeship?

Core target group will be young people who are:• not currently in a job and have little work

experience; • poorly qualified; and• assessed by provider or employer as having a

reasonable chance of work readiness within six months of engaging in a Traineeship.

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Three Core Elements: (1) Work Experience Placement

• Allows young people to demonstrate behaviours needed to secure and maintain a job

• Opportunity to highlight important skills – turning up on time, working as part of a team

• Work experience, not a paid job• Guaranteed interview – either (i) for a job vacancy

or (ii) an exit interview, with a reference from the employer

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Three Core Elements:(2) Flexible Employability Skills

• Equip trainees to find employment– Job search

– Interview skills

• Ensure that trainees remain in employment– Soft skills, confidence-building

– Communication, teamwork, organisation

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Three Core Elements:(3) English & Maths

• Response to employers’ concerns around basic skills levels of school leavers

• English and Maths to be a requirement for trainees without GCSE A*-C or Functional Skills L2

• Anticipate that qualifications would be completed in subsequent Apprenticeship or in other work with training

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Fit with the benefits system

• Likely that a significant proportion of target group will be on benefits

• We expect Job Centre Plus to be one of the referral routes• Where claimants are targeted, we encourage providers to

design their provision with the benefits system in mind – i.e. within existing rules around length of training and duration of work experience

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Partnership approach mirroring Apprenticeships

• Three essential partners:– An employer to offer work experience – A training provider to provide training– A young person who is motivated to take up

the opportunity

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What next?

• We will shortly be publishing more information on the shape of traineeships

• Funding agency guidance will follow setting out the detail for training providers

• Project team email address for policy questions: Traineeships.DISCUSSION@education.gsi.gov.uk