INTRODUCTION
Your daughter, son or cared for child is about to begin their apprenticeship. This guide is to provide you with the necessary information to support you and them on their journey.
Becoming an apprentice, whether they are starting their career or looking to upskill in a current role, is a productive and effective way to develop into a skilled and qualified member of an organisation.
An apprenticeship is a ‘paid job’ that provides them with the opportunity to gain industry relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours. Apprenticeships can be used to kick start a career or to develop themselves in a current role or industry. Some of the main benefits are:
• Earning a wage
• Working towards a recognised qualification
• No student fees for the apprentice
• Opportunity of progression or permanent employment
CASTLEFORD COLLEGE
WAKEFIELD COLLEGE
SELBY COLLEGE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group are here to support you! The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group are here to support each apprentice and assist you as the parent or carer should you require any further information at any point. An Apprenticeship Recruitment & Engagement Officer (REO) will be assigned to each apprentice, whose roles is to support them and their employer throughout the apprenticeship journey. The Recruitment & Engagement Officer will cover the following:
1. Complete assessments to ensure the potential apprentice and employer are suitable and eligible for the apprenticeship programme.
2. Support the potential apprentice with finding a suitable employer (if required).
3. All required paperwork to meet apprenticeship compliance is discussed and completed.
4. Ensure the potential apprentice is aware of requirements, and these are met prior to enrolment.
5. Provide advice and guidance throughout the journey.
FINDING A SUITABLE EMPLOYER
The allocated Recruitment & Engagement Officer can support the potential apprentice with finding a suitable employer to support them through an apprenticeship. A CV will be requested from the potential apprentice, to allow the Recruitment & Engagement Officer to put them forward for any suitable vacancies. Although the Recruitment & Engagement Officer can support, there are no guarantees of employment, therefore it’s important for candidates to also continue to search for opportunities themselves.
There are several ways to do this as follows:
• Approach local businesses with a CV.
• Search employer websites, particularly for larger companies who may advertise their own vacancies.
• Search/request on local social media pages.
• Search the government “find an apprenticeship” website.
• Speak to friends and family in their chosen industry.
• Be pro-active and put themselves out there!.
The Apprenticeship Recruitment team will keep in regular contact with potential apprentices throughout this process and will be on hand if they require any support or guidance.
APPRENTICE SCREENING
As part of the application process, potential apprentices will be screened by the Apprenticeship Recruitment Team to ensure suitability and eligibility. They will also be required to complete an English & Maths assessment.
On some occasion, potential apprentices may not meet the entry requirements of the chosen apprenticeship programme; this would be discussed with them by their Recruitment & Engagement Officer.
• Employers will also be screened by the Apprenticeship Recruitment Team to ensure suitability and eligibility.
• Employers are required to complete initial paperwork to enable the Recruitment team to assess suitability in regard to Health and safety, funding and apprenticeship requirements.
• Employers are also required to complete a job scan and, in some cases, provide a job description. This is to allow the team to assess suitability of the desired apprenticeship standard, to ensure outcomes can be met. Assessors also visit new employers to assess the site and suitability.
• On some occasion, some employers may not meet the requirements of the chosen apprenticeship standard; this would be discussed with the potential apprentice and the employer by the Recruitment & Engagement Officer.
EMPLOYER SCREENING GRANTS
Care Bursary Grants
The bursary is for eligible apprentices who are in care or are care leavers. It will help remove financial barriers to accessing and completing apprenticeships.
Care leaver bursary is paid by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to the apprenticeship training provider once the apprentice has been on the apprenticeship for at least 60 days.
Normally, the provider must pass it on to the apprentice within 30 days of receiving it. For the payment to be made, the eligible apprentice must tell their training provider that they are a care leaver and provide written confirmation from their local authority.
For care leaver apprentices starting their apprenticeship on or after 1 August 2023, the bursary will be £3,000. It is payable in instalments over the first year of the apprenticeship.
CITB Grants
If you are as CITB registered employer and meeting eligibility rules you can apply for a CITB Apprenticeship Grant. Further information on this and details on how to apply can be found at: www.citb.co.uk/levy-grants-and-funding/grants-and-funding/apprenticeshipgrants/england-apprenticeship-grants/.
REQUIREMENTS IN RELATION TO THE EMPLOYER AND RECRUITMENT
Apprentices need to ensure;
• They are employed in a ‘paid job’ that provides them with the required scope to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviour required for both the job and apprenticeship standard.
• They have a designated mentor who will actively take part in their training and take part in regular three-way progress reviews.
• That off the job training time is protected and provided to them. This is a legal requirement of all apprenticeship programmes. Further information on this can be found at; www.youtube.com/ watch?v=0Ne4BiiNUGc.
• Apprentices may be required to study English & maths qualifications as part of their apprenticeship programme if they do not hold relevant exemptions. These are delivered on a block weeks basis at either Castleford or Selby College.
• Apprentices are required to receive a lawful wage. Please note if the potential apprentice is employed prior to enrolment, they must be paid the National Minimum Wage until enrolment onto the apprenticeship programme. Rates of pay can be found www.gov.uk/national-minimum -wage-rates
• Apprentices should be issued with a contract of employment. Due to government funding rules, we will request a copy of this from their employer prior to enrolment.
ADDITIONAL LEARNING SUPPORT
We are required under section 20 of the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled apprentices (including those with learning difficulties). All potential apprentices will be given the opportunity to discuss any support needs they may require prior to and after enrolment.
OUR REQUIREMENTS AS THE TRAINING PROVIDER
As part of suitability and eligibility checks we will issue several documents to the apprentice for completion prior to the enrolment onto programme.
• Prior learning of each apprentice is reviewed via skills scan to establish the correct starting point for the apprentice. To ensure no duplication of learning is delivered and funded. This includes prior education, training or associated qualifications in a related area, previous apprenticeships or relevant work experience.
• The potential apprentice will be contacted to complete these prior to enrolment onto programme. A reduction to the length of time the apprentice is on programme must be made if they have substantial relevant prior learning.
• Upon completion, if prior learning is assessed and results in the apprentice needing to be on programme for less than 1 year, the apprenticeship programme cannot be funded. Such occasions will be discussed further by the Recruitment & Engagement Officer and employer.
• The potential apprentice and employer will be invited to attend a discussion with the Recruitment & Engagement Officer prior to issue of contracts (below) and enrolment. This is a funding requirement for all apprentices enrolled from 1st August 2023.
• Contractual paperwork is issued via signable documents for signature to both the apprentice and their employer.
» Apprenticeship Agreement
» Training plan
» Training agreement
• Once all steps and paperwork are in place the apprentice will be issued with an enrolment form for completion, alongside they will be required to provide a copy of identification and a passport style photograph.
POST-ENROLMENT
A welcome email, including college login details and timetable (if applicable) will be shared with the apprentice following enrolment. In some cases, they may be issued with a first day of learning which will evidence their start onto their programme.
• Apprentices will be designated an Assessor, who will contact them within the first four weeks on programme.
• Regular progress reviews will be completed by the assessor with the apprentice and their employer. Additional feedback and planning, observations and on-site assessments will also take place during the apprenticeship duration.
• If your daughter, son or cared for child is under the age of 18, you will be able to receive progress updates as and when you request them.
• Attendance alerts are created upon enrolment via automatic email to their line manager/mentor.
• If apprentices require English and/or maths as part of the apprenticeship programme, they will be provided a date for attendance a minimum of six weeks prior to the required attendance. Both the apprentice and employer will be notified.
• The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group uses electronic portfolio systems. Login details are provided shortly after enrolment to each apprentice, and assessors will instruct apprentices on how to use this.In order to complete their apprenticeship, an End Point Assessment is a requirement of all apprenticeship standards and is designed to ensure competency of each apprentice. These are completed by an external body. Further information can be found www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/ employers/end-point-assessments
• We will periodically ask for feedback from employers and apprentices.
CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES
On occasion changes may affect the apprenticeship programme. We would advise apprentices to contact their Assessor or Recruitment & Engagement Officer as soon as possible to discuss these.
Apprentices must be employed continuously throughout the duration of the apprenticeship programme. If the employment is terminated by dismissal or resignation, apprentices must inform their assessor and/or Recruitment & Engagement Officer as soon as possible:
• Date employment was terminated.
• Reason why employment was terminated.
• Apprentices will have up to 12 weeks to secure alternative suitable employment (if applicable) and will be supported by their assigned Recruitment & Engagement Officer.
Break in Learning (BIL)
• If the apprentice is going to be absent from work for a period of time, they must inform their Assessor and Recruitment & Engagement Officer as soon as possible and their employer will be required to notify us also.
Change of Employer
• Where no active learning is planned to take place within a calendar month (except for apprentices working in schools for the month of August), the apprentice may be placed onto a break in learning (BIL).
On occasion the apprentice may move employer. In these instances, they should inform their Assessor and Recruitment & Engagement Officer as soon as possible with the date they are due to leave employment. The employer is also required to notify us of this.
Redundancy
• If the apprentice is made redundant from their employer and, on the day of dismissal, are within six months of the final day of the apprenticeship practical period or have completed at least 75% of the apprenticeship practical period, they may continue the apprenticeship training without being employed.
• If the apprentice has completed less than 75% of their programme and the remaining training represents a training duration of six months or more, they can continue the apprenticeship programme for a maximum of 12 weeks whilst searching for a new employer, but will need to source relevant employment to finish their apprenticeship.
YOUR NOTES
e: info@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk
w: www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk