Barnsley College has led a collaborative bid which has secured £1.16m of government funding to expand traineeship provision across the region.
The initiative between Barnsley College and Independent Training Services Ltd. (ITS); RNN Group, The Sheffield College and DN Colleges Group aims to support up to 400 people aged 19-24 in gaining employability skills and work experience by 31 July 2021.
David Akeroyd, Deputy Principal, Development and Productivity at Barnsley College said: “Traineeships provide fantastic work experience opportunities blended with relevant training and employability skills. They are a pathway into employment or higher level qualifications such as apprenticeships. This funding sets us on course to create regional employment opportunities which are desperately needed to aid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This funded collaborative effort is bolstered by incentives announced in the March 2021 budget, to make traineeships and apprenticeships an attractive proposition for regional employers seeking to develop new skills and talent into the workforce.”
Up until 30 September 2021, employers providing traineeship placements can access a £1,000 incentive payment for each trainee they support. Progressing that trainee into an apprenticeship, or recruiting a new apprentice, offers up to £4,000 in additional incentive funding.
Traineeships present an opportunity for a person aged 19-24, to earn employability skills and work experience which will help them to secure employment or progress into higher level training. The work placement element of a traineeship is expected to have a minimum duration of 70 hours, with programmes typically spread over several weeks and flexibility for more than one employer to engage a single trainee. Employability skills, Functional Skills and other relevant training which may be sector-specific, is blended into each trainee’s programme based on a skills assessment undertaken at the outset.
In addition to training and work experience, trainees get a taste of a specific occupation or sector, or a means to potentially transition onto an alternative career path. For employers, traineeships are an opportunity to assess candidates, perhaps prior to offering them permanent employment or progression into an apprenticeship to instil role-specific knowledge, skills and behaviours.
Barnsley College is working with businesses to lead economic recovery and meet employers’ needs, both now and for future roles, by providing students and adults with the skills to succeed.
The College offers a range of training programmes including on-the-job training, part-time courses, apprenticeships, higher level courses and management training. The dedicated Business Development team works with each employer client to identify training needs before creating a bespoke workforce development strategy.
