Last week, the Skills Funding Agency announced that they are increasing SFA-funded Traineeship allocations by 24% in 2016/17. Although there have been mixed messages with growth cases over the last few months, it’s clear that Traineeships is high up on the agenda.
The programme is now open to all registered training providers irrespective of their Ofsted grade and the government is keen to increase starts, so it’s likely that significant opportunities will be available for providers in the new contract year.
Now is the time for you, as a provider, to start preparing to develop and grow your Traineeships offer. So here are 4 questions you will need to work through:
What is your delivery model?
Traineeships is designed to be flexible; a stepping stone to an Apprenticeship, work or further training. No one model fits all providers. Start by developing a delivery model that builds on your strengths and relationships. What industries do you operate in and which employers do you have strong relationships with? Consider where your strengths lie in terms of the age of learners and whether you would deliver the programme within a set timeframe or conduct it on a roll-on roll-off basis. Use this information to start small before rolling out a broader offer.
What staff resources do you have in place?
How will Traineeships be managed in your organisation? Can you appoint dedicated staff to develop and oversee Traineeship provision or will it be managed within your current teams? Communication between different teams is key – for example, how will Traineeships fit within your existing timescales for English and maths delivery, or will it be separate?
The impact of Traineeships is heavily scrutinised by Ofsted, so it’s important you have clear records of the learner journey, English and maths and positive outcomes. How will you work with staff to make sure these processes are in place?
What is your marketing and recruitment strategy?
Chicken and egg: do you approach employers first and then learners, or the other way round? We would suggest starting with your current employer contacts – explain what a Traineeship is and make sure they don’t see it as a replacement for Apprenticeships.
What is your current offer to 16-18 year olds who aren’t successful in applying for an Apprenticeship? Build Traineeships into your thinking. Many 19+ learners may be claiming benefits. What is your relationship like with your local job center?
Consider how you use social media and your website. How do you engage young people, employers and even parents?
Have you designed an effective curriculum?
All learners who haven’t achieved an A*-C GCSE in English and maths must study it as part of their Traineeship. They don’t have to achieve the qualification, but must be working towards it. Where they continue onto an Apprenticeship, then this will continue.
What do your trainees actually need in terms of employability skills? Take into account any training they have had from JCP.
The trainee must start the work placement within the first four weeks, so help them prepare for this and make sure mechanisms are in place to support them in the workplace.
Look to add value for the trainee and help them be more employable. For example, if they are in hospitality, why not offer them a food and hygiene certificate?
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These questions only touch on the basics. On 12th April, SDN is hosting a one-day in-depth workshop to help providers launch and develop Traineeships.
The workshop will take you through the detail of the programme and help you develop an action plan to implement over the next few months ready for the new contract year. You will also be equipped with useful hints, tips and follow-up tools and resources.
There are only 30 spaces, so book now to secure a place!