The Sector Managed Apprenticeships programme has received co-investment from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills through the Growth and Innovation Fund.

Sector Managed Apprenticeships

Partnership between – e-skills – BT - NiTP

Strategic objectives

Make the apprenticeships route into the IT sector as popular with employers of IT professionals as the graduate route

Change the attitude of the IT sector to apprenticeships

Focus on SME employers

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Role of BT

Provide apprentice employers with confidence by carrying out quality assurance of the training provider and the provision

Provide support to apprentices by offering opportunities for professional development

Provide access to the BT apprentice applicant database for candidates not located in BT recruitment areas – therefore offering an alternative IT sector employment opportunity

Advise on the framework design and standards

2

Role of the National Skills Academy for IT

Provide IT sector endorsement of the training provider (NiTP)– through the Training Quality Panel

Provide apprenticeship Gold Standards developed through research into skills gaps and engagement with a cross section of sector employers

Provide Marketing support

Project manage the roll out of the Gold Standards brand with employers and apprentices

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Role of NiTP

Create delivery programme to match the Gold Standards

Engage with SME’s to create the apprenticeship jobs

Engage with young people to select candidates who will meet employer needs

Register the apprentices and train them according to the Gold Standards in consultation with their employers

Work with BT to accommodate their quality assurance process

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The Talent Pool

BT applicants tick a box to opt into the National Skills Academy for IT scheme for finding employment

BT provide these applicants to the Academy each week – the Academy checks then passes to TP

The Academy has built an online candidate management system to handle the BT applicants

The system enables any employer to provide their unused applicants to any Academy approved provider

12 apprentices have been employed since January

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Programme achievements in 8 months

313 apprentices in 8 months into new jobs

90% SMEs

60% first time apprentice employers

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Date Employers Apprentices locations

Oct '12 84 104 4

Jan '13 171 205 8

Apr '13 250 313 10

What employers say (1)

“taking on an IT Gold Standard Apprentice is a priority for our company. We will benefit from the structured technical learning our apprentice will receive. The recruitment process, and the professional and business skills gained, mean that our apprentice will be quickly able to add value, making financial sense for our business.”

Philip Oakley, Owner – OutserveWeb.

What employers say (2)

The apprenticeship programme forms part of our strategic plan for our organisations succession planning and personnel management and has been a successful model for us, one that I would recommend [Sandye Place]

We have been provided with many applicants and almost every candidate has been a successful to fit the role required. It has been a seamless task in recruiting new employees. [CAPTEC]

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What apprentices say

Forrest Rundle, an IT Gold Standard Apprentice at Fresh Metrics in Birmingham is excited to be part of the scheme.

“It’s a great start to my IT career.  I am learning skills with NiTP and applying them right away with Fresh Metrics, so I can really make a contribution to the company.”

Key successes

SME’s have bought into the project and should be commended

AGE grant has been a great help

SME’s wont engage unless they can support their apprentices – a great sign of commitment

A theme emerging of SME’s building their businesses around Apprentice resource based on good experience so far

Potential to industrialise across sector

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More to do

Supply chains

• using OEMs and their supply chains

Gold Standards

• maintaining quality as more providers enter the market

• licensing

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What next?

How do we better share date on talented potential apprentices?

How do we ensure we have national/pan-sector coverage so all SMEs can get this sort of service?

How do we industrialise the model?

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