In July 2020, the Government announced their plans to reform and expand the traineeship programme designed to help young people find work.
A traineeship programme is a way for young people to gain valuable experience in the workplace. An employer offering a range of courses to participants aged 16-24 years old provides them with better job prospects in the future.
You may be considering offering traineeships as an employer. You may also be fully aware of the concept, but did you know that since 2018 there has been a gradual decline in people starting them.
The Chancellor has pledged 30,000 new traineeships in England involving classroom-based tuition in maths, English and CV writing. This will run alongside ‘high-quality’ unpaid work experience for a minimum of 70 hours of which employers are not required to pay trainees.
This initiative began in September 2020. Traineeships would last between six weeks and six months and were fully aimed at helping those leaving education to secure their first job.
There was big news from the Government more recently on this. Employers will be excited to know that since 27 January 2021, they can apply for a £1000 incentive grant. The grant is part of a new scheme designed to support young people in gaining the skills and experience they need to get a job, an apprenticeship or pursue further study.
You can hire as many trainees as you like, but don’t forget, you will only be able to claim grants for up to a maximum of 10 incentive payments; you can also claim the cash incentive for all work placements that have been completed since 1 September 2020.
Gillian Keegan, the Apprenticeships and Skills Minister, has explained that the funding is payable upon completion of each traineeship and will help businesses with the costs required to provide a high-quality work placement for a trainee. This includes providing facilities, uniforms or helping with travel costs.
Find the registration forms and all other details about how to comply with the scheme here.
As well as this new funding, an apprentice scheme was also announced last year. Employers can receive £2000 for each new apprentice they hire aged under 25 and £1500 for apprentices aged 25 and over.
So far, young people have completed work placements in a range of industries including construction, education and health and social care.
Here at Whyfield, we are strong believers in nurturing talent and have seen apprentices grow and succeed with us. Find out more about what it is like to be an apprentice at Whyfield or check-in at our careers page where we will advertise any upcoming apprenticeship opportunities with us.