Skills shortages...

Data gathered during the National Employers Skills Survey (2003) suggested that at any one time there are over a quarter of a million job vacancies that are hard to fill, and approximately half of these cannot be filled due to skill shortages in the labour market. Skills deficiencies inhibit those organisations that are often striving to grow and improve their performance. Recruitment problems are usually highest where the skills required of employees are relatively modest. Engaging with and supporting Apprentices and E2E students can help fill the gap that just over one fifth of employers report they have. You can help your business grow and at the same time give someone a chance. Putting extra trained help to good use potentially enables you to carry more business – this may apply particularly to you if you are a small or developing business. Apprenticeships and E2E produce well-motivated, productive, skilled individuals. But, as with anything worthwhile you get as much out as you put in!

Cost-effective recruitment...

You can utilise your support of our programmes as a means of future cost-effective recruitment. Involvement with learning enables employers to recruit staff who are familiar with your company’s culture, and are trained or ready to be trained in skills directly related to your business’ operations. It’s almost like growing your own staff!

Tackling social and economic disadvantage...

The Government has realised that workforce development is needed to fuel economic growth, particularly in disadvantaged areas of the country. Helping local people to improve their employability is crucial in tackling the problems of social and economic disadvantage – you can play a role in this. The Government’s Social Exclusion Unit (1999) found that for most people the prospect of employment was the most powerful incentive to improve their skills. The visible involvement of employers such as yourself in work based learning initiatives can begin to impact on people’s expectations and achievements. Many employers welcome the opportunity to work with the community since they are keen to demonstrate their commitment to social inclusion and equality of opportunity. This also has a positive impact on the morale of existing employees, who can see the company shares their values and is committed to training.

Have your say...

Engaging with Apprenticeships and E2E enables you to have your say in training the future workforce – employers can be highly influential in making work based learning successful and relevant to their business needs. At Springboard Southwark we want to work with you in partnership - we are keen explore your needs to ensure that we match them with the interests, skills and knowledge of our apprentices.

Improve existing employees skills...

Apprenticeships and E2E also provide an opportunity for existing employees to develop valuable mentoring, guidance and supervisory skills. Many employees welcome the opportunity to ‘up-skill’ since they realise the benefits this brings them as individuals, aside from the overall benefit to the company.

Useful advice and support...

You will receive advice from us on the legislative requirements relating to Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities that affect employers as well as Apprentices and E2E students. We produce a quarterly newsletter where we aim to provide general information on these and other areas which may be of interest to you. You can speak with one of our Training Advisors at any time for specific help and guidance.

Your involvement

You may be interested in either an Apprentice or an E2E student. Typically an Apprentice would work in you company for up to 4 days a week, for between 9 to 18 months. The time it takes for them to achieve their apprenticeship (and therefore the time they spend with you) depends on their own individual ability.

It may be that is too big a commitment. Or you may like to get to know an individual more before making a longer commitment. If that is the case then an E2E student may be more suitable for you. An E2E student is working towards taking the ‘step up’ to an Apprenticeship. The time an E2E student spends with you is flexible – it could be 2 days a week for 4 weeks, or an 8 week ‘block’! Whatever your circumstances we can work with you to suit your needs.

At all times we will work in partnership with you and your learner to ensure all parties are supported and well informed. We provide all employers with a comprehensive ‘Work Placement Pack’. This will help you gain the most from engaging with work-based learning. Whatever programme you are interested in, the following should give you an idea of the activities you can expect to be involved in. The level of you involvement will obviously depend on the length of time you have a learner in your workplace.

• Before a learner is able to join your company on work placement it is necessary for us to take a Health and Safety risk assessment on the premises and the organization. This typically takes an hour of your time and often companies find it a useful tool to use in ensuring that health and safety within the organization is of a good standard.
• On the first day of your learner starting you will need to provide a Health and Safety Induction. We can help you with this if necessary.
• On a daily basis you will need to supervise, guide and allocate work to your learner. You will also need to monitor their attendance and view their work-based record (Apprentices) or experience log (E2E).
• On a monthly basis you will become involved in your learner’s reviews and assessments.
• Periodically we will ask you to provide ‘witness’ statements to confirm you have observed your Apprentice carrying out tasks relevant to the NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) they are studying as part of their Apprenticeship. We may also ask you to provide us with feedback on our programmes.

If you are interested in supporting an Apprentice or E2E learner please speak with Jenny Comrie, Employment Liaison and Development Officer on 020 7639 1007 or e-mail jenny.comrie@springboard-st.org.

Here's what one of our work placement providers thinks about us:

SRC Nursery has supported Springboard for over 4 years by providing placement and employment opportunities to NVQ and Apprenticeship learners. Over 5 learners have been employed at the nursery enabling it to expand its capacity and experience and professionalism of its staff.

Dorothy says “Staff in the Childcare department at Springboard are always helpful friendly and approachable, and they always support us. We in return support springboard by taking an active interest in the learners and what they are doing to progress in their course. We interact well and attend any forums and training that Springboard offer us for the benefit for the students and our organisation”.

For further information on SRC Nursery please call Dorothy Briggs on 020 7582 7282.

Ever thought about a career in Caring for Children and Young People?

Are you caring and sensitive to the needs of others? Are you a good listener and communicator? Can you be sympathetic, patient, friendly and tolerant? Then a career in Caring for Children and Young People may be for you!

You could work for social services, health authorities, private organisations or voluntary agencies. The demand for people working in the youth sector is growing, so there are extensive opportunities.

...more