Creating 21st Century Apprenticeships: Investigating the Implications for Service Providers and Employers
Date: 8th September 2010
Time: 10.40am-3.15pm (including networking lunch)
Venue: The Commonwealth Club, Westminster
Cost: £225 per place, £175 for two or more places
Please click here to view an agenda
“It is vital that we continue to invest in people and their skills, helping them to find pathways to better and well paid jobs with a real future. Apprenticeships are designed by employers for employers, so they are tailored to the needs of the workforce. Apprenticeships are key to developing the skills of the workforce to enable employers to respond in the upturn.”
- Iain Wright MP, Minister for 14-19 Reform and Apprenticeships – February 2010
The Context
One of the key themes of recent Government employment and skills initiatives, such as ‘The Young Persons Guarantee’ and ‘Backing Young Britain’, has been a commitment to vastly increase the available number of work based apprenticeships, to build the skills of young people in key areas of future economic importance. This has resulted in a commitment to create 400,000 government funded jobs or training places for young people in the next 18 months, along with a subsidy for employers taking on young apprentices. But the creation, structuring and promotion of these new apprenticeships will require partnership working between local authorities and education services, and employers from all sectors.
The Speakers
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Simon Waugh – Chief Executive, National Apprenticeship Service
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Cath Witherington – Joint Apprenticeship Unit, BIS/DCSF
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Tom Richmond – Independent Skills Policy Adviser, CIPD
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Wayne Gough - Interim Manager and Des Crilley – Director of Community Cultural Services, City and Guilds
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Steve Stewart – Chief Executive, Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull Partnership
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Pauline Smith – Head of Supporting Independence Programme – Kent County Council
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Jerry Comber – Apprenticeship Programme, BT
The Issues
Throughout the day delegates will have the chance to engage with the panel, investigating key issues such as:
- What are the strategic areas of the economy in which apprenticeship provision will be most focused?
- What should new apprenticeships look like in practice and how can their links to higher education be strengthened?
- What is the likely funding structure for apprenticeships in the short to medium term?
- Examining the post-election landscape
- How to improve certification arrangements for apprenticeships?
- How can strong local relations be built between employment service providers and employers?
- Ensuring that the benefits of apprenticeships are promoted to both the public and employers.
- How to build programmes in industries which do not have a strong tradition of apprenticeships?
- Exploring different methods of advice and guidance for young people – examining the potential role of personal advisers.
- How to better join up the services of key providers – e.g Connexions, Jobcentre Plus and Business Link?
Objectives and Outcomes
The morning of this Policy and Practice Briefing will provide delegates a forum to be informed on and discuss the growing emphasis on apprenticeships, the implications for stakeholders in all sectors, and the funding available for providers and employers. Delegates will consider the importance of employer input, and engaging young people.
The afternoon will investigate examples of successful partnership working across service providers and with local employers, along with innovative apprenticeship schemes. Delegates will gain ideas and insights to take back to their organisations and roles.
Who should Attend?
Delegates will be drawn from local authorities, skills and training providers, apprenticeship programmes, local, regional and national employment initiatives, education authorities, further education institutions (universities and colleges), Jobcentre Plus, Connexions, Business Link, Sector Skills Councils, LSPs, central government departments & bodies, regional development agencies, BME representatives, probationary officers, employers, social enterprise and academia.
Registration Options
