An Employers Guide To Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning
SCCU Sport Apprenticeship Scheme An Employers Guide
If you are already providing or expressing interest in providing a work-placement, taking on a new recruit or training one of your existing employees, we hope that this guide will help you understand the services and support which we can provide and the role you can play in the process.
How can work based learning help your business? We know that recruiting the right member of staff for you company and ensuring and ensuring that they have the relevant skill and knowledge to do the job you require will be of paramount importance to you. We can help you in these activities through our worked based learning programmes, which will provide you with a number of key benefits:
Cost Effective Recruitment Development of a well-trained, well-motivated workforce Help meet the costs of training Increase productivity through better trained staff Improved company performance with measurable impact Demonstrate your commitment to staff development
How can we help your business? Work-based learning is part of national programme of funded provision to raise skill levels. It aims to develop an individual’s knowledge and skill within the workplace environment and presents a real opportunity for employees who want to continue their learning outside fulltime, further and higher education. It provides support for the employees to work towards the achievement of apprenticeships (Level 2), advanced apprenticeships (Level 3) and vocational qualifications. Over 200,000 forward thinking employers are currently developing
their employees in this way, ranging from small employers who employ less than five staff to household names such as J Sainsburys, Rolls Royce and American Express.
What Qualifications are involved in Apprenticeships & Advanced Apprenticeships? NVQ and QFC qualifications | Are designed around the skills people use at work and cover all types and levels of work. Each NVQ and QFC qualifications is made up a number of units of competence which set out what an individual must be able to do in a given area and what standard.
Functional Skill | As part of their training programme apprentices will also be developing their functional skills. Functional Skills address the personal development of an individual and cover: English, Maths and Information Technology. Functional skills are considered by employers to be an essential part of occupational competence. They are delivered with the NVQ or QCF qualification but are separately certificated.
Technical Certificates | Some apprenticeships are further enhanced by a Technical Certificate. This is usually an exam based qualification to assess the understanding of the principles of the occupational area.
Our staff will be on hand throughout the apprenticeship to give you feedback on progress and to help you to be involved in the best way for your business.
Recruiting and Selecting Apprentices The recruitment and selection process aims to attract and select apprentices who are best suited to work and the training you can offer. Having discussed you particular needs we will match your requirements with the skills and experience of our learners and shortlist those whom we feel would be most suited to the position you are offering. We can advertise your vacancy on the National apprenticeship website: www.apprenticeships.org.uk. Alternately you may wish to undertake your own recruitment activities. As the employer the final decision regarding selection will be yours. Training Provider’s Role….
Produce information promotional material to attract suitable candidates.
Link with Connexions Services, Schools and other external organizations to attract as many suitable candidates as possible, including those who may be currently underrepresented in your workforce.
Use effective and fair selection methods.
Refer suitable candidates to you for interview.
Advise you on selection methods and help with interviewing, if required.
Organise work experience when appropriate.
To complete an Organisational Training Needs Analysis with the employer.
To offer current, impartial information, Advice and Guidance.
To refer the employer to an alternative provision if appropriate.
Employer’s Role…
Advise us on the types of positions you are seeking to fill and the characteristics which potential apprentices will require.
Interview a number of applicants and keep us informed on the outcomes of these.
Take action to consider applicants from underrepresented groups.
Give applicants accurate information about the work which they will be doing and the training which you will provide.
Treat all candidates fairly and consistently during the selection process.
Offer a salary in line with current SFA guidance.
Advise us of any existing employees whom you wish to participate in work based learning.
To participate in the completion of an Organisational Training Analysis.
Apprenticeship Induction Having got the right person you will want to ensure that they stay with you. One way of doing this is by providing a well-planned induction programme. Induction training will help trainees settle quickly into your company by helping them understand the environment in which they are based and the job which they are doing. We will complete this by providing an induction to tell them about their training programme. Training Provider’s Role…
Provide induction training for apprentices on their training programme.
Explain about work-based learning and the role of everyone.
Advise you on workplace inductions and initial training.
Explain how apprenticeships are achieved.
Explain to apprentices their rights and responsibilities.
To check that apprentices have understood the information which they have received at induction.
Provide apprentices with written information to support what they have been given during induction, to which they can refer to in the future.
Assess any learning or medical needs and share information with the employer if relevant.
Employer’s Role…
Show apprentices where everything in the workplace is.
Introduce them to the people they will work with and their supervisor.
Train them in the health and safety of your workplace.
Explain you company policies and procedures.
Inform apprentices of their conditions of employment.
Provide apprentices with basic information about the job which they will be doing.
Provide the apprentice with a mentor if possible.
Issue apprentice with a contract of employment.
Delivering Learning Programmes Having planned the apprentice’s learning programme we will work together to deliver the training that is required to develop the apprentice’s skills and help them achieve their qualification. Much of the training will take place within the workplace itself. This will typically involve apprentices developing their skills through observing others performing activities, practising themselves and learning from their supervisor. The more learning opportunities that you can provide the greater range of skills the apprentice is likely to acquire, which will be of benefits to your company. You may also wish to consider giving the apprentice projects to undertake, or want them to attend formal training sessions that will develop their skills knowledge even further.
Training Provider’s Role…
Provide help and advice on planning workplace training and learning activities.
Be aware of the learning activities that are taking place within the work place
Provide appropriate off-the-job training sessions to support the skills that the apprentice is developing in the work place, in order that they can achieve their qualification.
Keep you informed of what the apprentice has covered during off-the-job training activities.
Keep you informed of any additional learning or social needs support provided, where appropriate.
Employer’s Role…
To help apprentices develop their knowledge and skills by providing a wide range of learning and training opportunities.
Allow apprentices to attend off-the-job training sessions or exams at agreed times.
Help apprentices put into practice what they have learnt during off-the-job training sessions.
Allow the apprentice time off for training.
Initiate a meeting with us if you have any concerns about any aspects of the training deliver
Reviewing Work Based Learning Progress To check the apprentice is getting the most of their learning programme it is important to monitor their progress at regular intervals. This will ensure that any additional training or support needs, that are identified, are properly addressed. We will fully involve the apprentice’s supervisor and agree with you the best time for support to take place, as not to cause disruption to normal workplace activities. Training Provider’s Role…
Organise a schedule of regular review meetings.
Involve the apprentice and the workplace supervisor in the review.
Find out and record the progress made by the apprentice.
Identify additional training and support needs and update the training plan accordingly.
Agree and record actions and targets between this and the next review.
Make sure the apprentice and the workplace supervisor have a copy of the record of the review.
Employer’s Role…
Let us know how the apprentice is progressing in the workplace.
Advise us of any concerns which you may have regarding the apprentice’s progress.
Attend apprentice progress reviews.
Advise on workplace training and assessment opportunities that may occur in the period to the next review.
Ensuring Equality and Diversity SCCU Sport ltd is committed to the elimination of both direct and indirect discrimination and continuously seeks to actively implement positive policies to promote equality of opportunity. This is reflected in our recruitment practices where we welcome applications from all persons regardless of sex, marital status, race, disability, colour, age, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnic origin. We endeavour to treat apprentices fairly and equally during their training programmes and ensure that they know what to do if they have a complaint. We trust that your commitment to ensuring equality and diversity will be the same as ours.
Training Provider’s Role…
Promote equality and diversity throughout the work-based learning process
Have a written equality and diversity policy which staff, apprentices and employers understand and are committed to.
Advise you on equality and diversity issues and legislation.
Explain to apprentices how they should treat other people.
Make sure that apprentices know what to do if they feel they are being unfairly treated in the workplace.
Act on any complaints received from apprentices.
Employer’s Role…
Comply with equality and diversity legislation.
Demonstrate your commitment to equality and diversity in the workplace.
Ensure equality and diversity in selection, recruitment and learning activities.
Ensure that apprentices are treated fairly and equally.
Make sure that apprentices are not bullied, harassed or made to feel unwelcome in the workplace.
Explain to apprentices what to do if they have a complaint about the way that are treated.
Health and Safety and Safeguarding We have a positive commitment to promoting good health and safety practice in the workplace and know that this will be equally true of you.
Training Provider’s Role…
Using competent staff, verify that you can provide a healthy, safe and supportive learning environment.
Assist you on questions of health and safety and safeguarding requirements and application to individual apprentices.
Monitor health and safety practices on an ongoing basis.
Provide health and safety and safeguarding training for apprentices to raise their awareness of the risk.
Check apprentice’s understanding of health and safety and safeguarding risk awareness.
Investigate any accidents involving apprentices within the workplace and agree preventative action.
Ensure its staff are trained to recognise potential safeguarding issues.
Ensure its staff are registered with CRB/ISA schemes.
Employer’s Role…
Ensure the health, safety and safeguarding and welfare of apprentices and bring your policy statement to their attention.
Comply with health and safety and safeguarding legislation.
Inform the apprentice about who is responsible for health and safety and safeguarding matters within the company.
Provide initial and ongoing health and safety and safeguarding training in the workplace for apprentices.
Provide necessary protective clothing.
Report any accidents, concerning apprentices immediately to us.
Assess the risk to which apprentices are exposed at work and apply the general principles of prevention.
Introduce and maintain appropriate measures to eliminate or control risk to the lowest reasonable practicable level.
Ensure apprentices are properly supervised by a competent person.
Ensure that apprentices are covered under public and employer’s liability insurance.
Head Office: SCCU Sport Ltd 10 Fitzalan Close Church Lawford Rugby Warwickshire CV23 9EX Tel: 07933 238 538 Email: Lmorrissey@sccu.uk.com | Apprenticeship Coordinator Sriddell@sccu.uk.com | Director Web: www.sccu.uk.com