I want to employ an Apprentice

Overview
Apprenticeships
Employment
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Responsibilities

An Apprenticeship is a work-based training programme that focuses learning on the needs of the employer. They lead to nationally recognised qualifications and you can train both new and existing employers through the scheme.

An Appprentice works as an employee within the workplace and will attend College, usually, once a week. Meaning you can ensure they develop the skills and knowledge you need them to have.

Thousands of businesses across Britain have already benefited from taking on and training apprentices. Did you know?Over 80% of employers who employ apprentices agree they make their workplace more productive.

If you have not employed an apprentice in the last 12 months, you may be eligible for Apprenticeship Grant.

By taking on an Apprentice you will be required to employ them and give them the same benefits as any other employee. As apprenticeships are work-based training, most of the training is ‘on the job’. Employment is expected to be for a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Length of Apprenticeships

Most courses last between 1 and 2 years. Advanced Level 3 or 4 courses normally take a further 1-2 years to complete, however the qualifications are based on achievements rather than the time spent studying.

At the start of the programme your employee is assessed and an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is tailored to suit yours and their needs and an expected timescale for successful completion is agreed.

How much paperwork is there to complete?

Very little! You are asked to complete a simple application form to confirm your support for the training, sign the health and safety audit, a simple contract and subsequent assessment and review reports and that’s it!

Health and Safety

In order to comply with the requirements for funding, a health and safety audit of the workplace must be conducted by a member of the College before the training can commence. This is done free of charge.

Mentoring, Monitoring and Reviews

Learners who are attending the College will have a Liaison Officer appointed to them to support and encourage them. The Liaison Officer, who works for the College, is concerned with the pastoral care and general progress of each learner and will liaise between you as the employer, the learner and the teaching staff in College. In addition, the College will appoint an Assessor, who will visit the learner at work, to formally observe and assess their occupational competence in the required tasks.

The assessor and the liaison officer provide you with regular updates and the opportunity for you to engage directly in your staff development.

Learners often benefit from having someone at work to talk to during their training and this increases the chances of them successfully completing their training. We recommend that employers appoint a mentor for their learner, to assist with their professional development.

What qualifications are included?

There are 3 qualifications apprentices receive on completion, these are:

A Competency based qualification, this part of the course is based on an employee’s performance at work and provides evidence of the individual’s ability to do the job. Candidates build a portfolio of evidence from their workplace activity. An assessor from the College will visit your employee in the workplace to guide and monitor their progress. Employers are expected to engage and support the training as defined in the Employer Agreement.

A Technical Knowledge Qualification, in depth skills and knowledge training is provided to give your member of staff the expertise they need. The qualification is gained by examination and assignments. Training is normally delivered at College through a combination of day/evening or block release training and workshops but can in some instances be delivered fully in the workplace. Not all courses require a Knowledge Qualification but most do.

A Functional Skills and Personal thinking and learning skills (PTLS), functional skills are taught to enhance your employee’s literacy, numeracy and IT skills. PTLS aid your employee with problem solving, creativity, reflection, team work and personal management.

You may already have a person within the company or already interviewed for the post, but if you require assistance in finding the right person we can help.

Once we receive your completed paperwork (including a full job description), we enter your vacancy onto the Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service website.
Once we receive any suitable applicants ourApprenticeship team will interview the candidate and do a maths and English Assessment. If you have any special requirements, please ensure you let us know what these are so we can match the best candidate to your job role.
If the candidate is suitable we request a CV from them and forward this CV to you, the employer.
We will then await your decision on whether you would like to employ the candidate. Once you have informed us of your decision we will write to you with details of the apprentices induction and start date at college.

There are responsibilities involved when taken on an Apprentice. You will be required to:

To pay the Apprentice in accordance with agreed employment terms and conditions.
To provide appropriate supervision including a nominated mentor and deputy to ensure continuity of supervision and for the mentor or deputy to be present at all training assessment meetings.
To permit the Apprentice to attend for college based instruction as required up to 1 day per week plus occasional additional workshops, as may be necessary to fulfill training objectives
To provide opportunities for the Apprentice to apply new skills in the workplace
To support the Apprentice by providing time to complete necessary assignments
To provide evidence of the Apprentice’s achievements in the workplace, as required
To provide use of equipment necessary to enable the Apprentice to fulfill training objectives
To contribute to and participate in Apprentice review meetings at maximum 12 week intervals.
To undertake legal and contractual responsibilities for the health and safety of the apprentice. As well as permit a Health and Safety inspection of the Apprentice’s place of work, by a representative of Huntingdonshire Regional College and to provide a copy of the latest employer’s liability insurance certificate.
To notify the College of accidents/incidents involving the Apprentice, within 24 hours.

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