Traineeships
April 2014
FOCUS ON...Implications of Traineeships
Opportunities or Challenge?
April 2014
Introduction
This paper explores
the implications of
However, low levels of maths, literacy and job
introducing traineeships into the education
specific
system in England by examining who they
communication and initiative) amongst young
will target, how the funding will work and
people have highlighted the
who can provide them.
additional support (Learndirect, 2013).
Introduction
In response, the Department for Education
Over the years, education policy makers have
(DfE) has introduced traineeships designed to
acknowledged that the transition between
provide 16-19 year olds in England with the
school, college and university into the labour
opportunity to develop the skills, behaviours
market is one of the biggest challenges young
and experience to successfully make the
people will face (Pearson, 2013). This is
transition from education to sustainable
particularly true in the current economic
employment or an apprenticeship (DfE, 2013).
climate as recent figures indicate that the
number of young people aged 16-24 in
unemployment
stands
at
958,000
(Learndirect, 2013).
skills
(such
as
team
working,
need for
The DfE (2013) believes that the introduction
of traineeships will provide an opportunity to
simplify the existing system and amalgamate
or cease similar programmes. However, this
Until recently, the Government’s response to
simplification will rely on employers and
youth unemployment has concentrated on
providers actively engaging with young people
the £1 billion Youth Contract designed to
to
provide
programmes that meet the needs of public
18-24
year
olds
with
new
opportunities, such as apprenticeships and
voluntary work (Learndirect, 2013).
www.wamitab.org.uk
ensure
that they are enrolled on
and private businesses.
Traineeships
April 2014
Traineeships: who are they for?
Traineeships are not intended for:
-
Very disengaged young people who
require intensive support because there is
existing provision for these young people
-
Those who are ready to start an
apprenticeship
-
Those already in a job
A young person will have completed a
traineeship when they have finished all
elements of their training programme or
reached six months on the programme. The
success of traineeships will be measured by
the number of young people that have
Traineeships will be six-month programmes
available to young people in England aged 16-
succeeded in securing employment, further
education or an apprenticeship.
19 and to young people with Learning
Difficulty Assessments (LDA) up to the
Traineeships: what do they involve?
academic age of 25 from August 2013.
The core content of a traineeship will include
They will be marketed as preparation for
three key features. The first is a good quality
apprenticeships and employment rather than
work placement (lasting a minimum of six
as a destination so organisations, such as
weeks and a maximum of five months) that is
schools, colleges and Jobcentre Plus, will play
relevant to the interests of the individual and
an important role in referring young people to
will provide suitable work experience to
suitable traineeships.
prepare the young person for employment.
The target audience for traineeships will
The DfE (2013) argues that the involvement of
therefore be young people that:
employers and a real workplace setting for
-
Are not currently in employment and
have limited work experience
-
Are qualified below Level 3
-
Have a reasonable chance of being ready
for employment, further training or an
apprenticeship
www.wamitab.org.uk
the work placement are crucial to the success
of traineeships. It is therefore a requirement
for the lead employer providing the work
placement to be identified before a young
person is enrolled on a traineeship.
Traineeships
April 2014
This employer will then be expected to offer a
those providers who have achieved an Ofsted
guaranteed interview at the end of a work
inspection grade of outstanding or good.
placement; this can either be a real job
interview or a formal exit interview that will
provide the individual with valuable feedback,
preparing them for future opportunities.
However, Henwood (2013) argues that the
strict
criteria
consequences
will
for
“carry
the
unintended
availability
of
traineeships within certain geographical areas
The second feature of traineeships is the work
[where there may not be good or outstanding
preparation training designed to improve
providers], which could be mitigated by
employability skills (such as CV writing, job
broadening the range of criteria applied ... to
searches, interpersonal skills and interview
include evidenced quality, [such as] a strong
technique) and the attributes that young
track record and extensive experience of
people will need to sustain a job (such as
successful work-based learning, plus previous
planning,
experience of delivering programmes for
time
management
and
team
working). However, the content of the work
preparation training will be up to providers
and employers to agree.
The third feature of traineeships will be the
emphasis on English and maths. A lack of
numeracy and literacy skills are regularly
highlighted by employers, so all young people
will be required to study these skills unless
they have achieved a GCSE A*-C grade.
Traineeships: guaranteeing quality
provision
For the first year, the DfE will apply quality
criteria to all providers interested in offering
traineeships to ensure that traineeships are “a
high quality option from the outset in order to
build and maintain their credibility with young
people and employers” (DfE, 2013).
The quality criteria state that the delivery of
traineeships in 2013/14 will be limited to
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NEETs and for the unemployed.”
Traineeships
April 2014
Traineeships: funding for employers
Funding Agency will be able to deliver
traineeships within the new study programme
Traineeships are an education and training
arrangements (DfE, 2013).
programme that will provide opportunities for
individuals to develop the skills that they need
Furthermore, existing Skills Funding Agency
to apply successfully for an apprenticeship or
(SFA) 16-19 apprenticeship contracts for
other job (DfE, 2013).
eligible providers will have amended funding
guidance allowing eligible providers to deliver
As a result, employers are not required to pay
traineeships (DfE, 2013).
young people for the work placement under
the traineeship as such activity is exempt from
Providers that qualify to deliver traineeships
the National Minimum Wage (DfE, 2013).
through either of these methods will be
required to use the funding per student
In addition, the DfE (2013) is providing several
methodology and rates to ensure that
opportunities for employers to lead the
trainees are funded as part-time students
delivery of traineeships to young people,
according to the number of hours the
through:
provider includes in their learner plan (DfE,
2013).
-
The
Employer
Ownership
of
Skills
initiative
-
Large employers with an existing contract
to deliver 16-19 apprenticeships, varying
this to also cover traineeships
-
Working in partnership with an existing
funded education or training provider
-
Working towards becoming an approved
provider in their own right for future
years
Traineeships: funding for providers
To ensure simplicity and allow traineeships to
be delivered from 2013/14, training providers
that meet the quality control criteria and
currently deliver provision for 16-19 year olds
by holding a contract with the Education
www.wamitab.org.uk
Traineeships
April 2014
Conclusion: why consider providing
Bibliography
traineeships?
Department
for
Education
(2013)
In the current economic climate, youth
Traineeships: supporting young people to
unemployment has become a prominent
develop the skills for apprenticeships and
challenge facing today’s society with an
sustainable employment, Department for
estimated 958,000 16-24 year olds out of
Education, London. Available:
work (Learndirect, 2013), frequently referred
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sys
to as the “lost generation”.
tem/uploads/attachment_data/file/197592/Tr
Traineeships offer businesses the opportunity
aineeships_discussion_paper.pdf
to shape local training delivery to ensure that
young people move into the labour market
with the specific skills and experience
required to successfully compete for job
vacancies (Learndirect, 2013).
Henwood, C. (2013) Rethink call on traineeship
rules,
FE
Week,
London.
Available:
http://feweek.co.uk/2013/05/17/rethink-callon-traineeship-rules/
However, this can only be achieved with
Learndirect (2013) everything you need to
buy-in from both employers and training
know
providers.
Sheffield. Available:
In the past, similar initiatives have failed
because the programme is seen as a lesser
alternative or lacked employer support
about
traineeships,
Learndirect,
http://www.learndirect.com/business/newsevents/our-newsletter/may-2013/everythingyou-need-to-know-about-traineeships/
(Pearson, 2013).
The Pearson Think
Tank
(2013)
Latest
The Government has tried to combat these
guidance on traineeships, The Pearson Think
issues through the quality criteria limiting
Tank, London. Available:
delivery to good or outstanding providers that
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/101923
currently engage with employers in their
446/policy%20watch/Traineeship%20Framew
sectors (Pearson, 2013).
ork%20May%202013.pdf
If you would like support in developing
effective traineeships phone 01604 231950,
visit our website at www.wamitab.org.uk, or
This paper has been written and produced by
email [email protected].
the Project Team at WAMITAB.
www.wamitab.org.uk