Apprenticeships are an exciting option for both employers and apprentices, while traineeships give individuals aged 16 to 24 the skills and experience needed to get them ready for an apprenticeship or a job.

Businesses and employers can employ apprentices at different levels, from school leavers and university graduates to people who want to further their careers or change career direction completely, or they can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee.

Employers can receive funding from the Government to help pay for apprenticeship training.  Those who hire a new apprentice between 1st August 2020 and 31st March 2021 can claim up to £3,000 depending on the age of the apprentice. For more information click here.

During their apprenticeship, the apprentice will receive two different types of training. Off- the-job training is delivered by a training provider during the apprentice's normal working hours. This training will teach the apprentice the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard so they can achieve occupational competence.

This is supported by on-the-job training which is delivered by the employer. Employers will need to give the apprentice training and supervision to help them perform the job they have been hired to do.

Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.

  • 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation
  • 78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity
  • 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service.

Other benefits of working with apprentices:

  • training can be adapted according to the needs of the business
  • apprentices are motivated to learn new skills
  • businesses can expand and upskill their workforce

Visit https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/ for more information.

Traineeships give individuals aged 16 to 24 (or 25 with an Education Health and Care Plan) the skills and experience needed to get them ready for an apprenticeship or a job. 

Traineeships are designed to be a stepping stone into an apprenticeship or employment.

They aim to provide work preparation training, English, maths and digital skills for those who need it, and a high-quality work experience placement to help young people take the first steps in finding the right career.

The full programme can last from six weeks to a maximum of one year (most last less than six months), and the content is tailored to the individual’s needs.

There is no employer cost and it is optional whether employers choose to pay the young person a wage and/or payment for expenses such as travel and subsistence.

This allows employers to design a programme that suits both the needs of the business and the needs of the trainee. It can help you develop a loyal and talented workforce, enable businesses to help support young people into meaningful work, and increase capacity and productivity.

In July the Chancellor announced that from 1st September 2020 the Government will provide an additional £111 million this year (2020-21) for traineeships in England. This funding includes a new employer incentive of £1,000 per trainee, up to a maximum of 10 trainees per employer for employers of all sizes, who offer new work placement opportunities between 1st  September 2020 and 31st July 2021.

Case study: North Lincolnshire supports skills during Covid-19

Alongside other authorities, North Lincolnshire Council has been supporting the delivery of T-Levels in North Lincolnshire and has been working to deliver valuable work experience placements in conjunction with local FE providers. But owing to COVID-19 placements were difficult to facilitate, and in order to maintain momentum and continue to give students the best experience, they have produced a series of short ‘a day in the life of’ videos showcasing some of the council’s services alongside access to the council’s suit of online courses  relating to their course work.

View and share examples including:

  • Early Years practitioner film giving an insight into sector roles, suitable for health and social care students
  • Administration students can view A day in the life at NLC - Business Support 
  • Children’s services enabled students to attend their Early Years team while delivering course for child care and safeguarding
  • E-learning courses are available to support learning in the workplace in subjects including Dementia Awareness, Court Skills for Children’s Social Workers, and Agile Working
  • North Lincolnshire Council staff have agreed to do Q&A Teams sessions with students on their chosen subject
  • Other interview-focused videos are also available for generic use and can be used for employability sessions.

For more information about the North Lincolnshire scheme, contact the Action Station at action.station@northlincs.gov.uk.

Find out more about how traineeships can benefit your business here and read about how businesses are making the most of traineeships here.