Some of the detail that we have been waiting for on the much-anticipated Foundation Apprenticeships has finally been revealed.
Here is a quick rundown on what we know so far…
What are Foundation Apprenticeships?
From August / September of this year Foundation Apprenticeships will be available for young people across England but what are they?
Well, think of them as paid jobs with training that give a great introduction to a particular occupational area or job. They have been designed to help young people (especially school and college leavers) take their first steps into the world of work.
They are just like other apprenticeships, in that they offer a real job with training, a minimum duration of eight months, and off-the-job training. They also include assessment to ensure that the levels of occupational competence as laid out in the occupational standard have been reached.
Foundation Apprenticeships also include employability skills to support young people in making the transition into employment, and they get paid, too!
Who are they for?
Individuals aged between 16–21, or up to 24 years of age if you have an EHCP, are a care leaver, or have been in prison. They are designed to be inclusive and flexible, and to give young people a real insight into a particular sector / career / job pathway.
How long will a Foundation Apprenticeship take to do?
The minimum duration will be eight months but could be longer depending on an individual learner’ needs – this is a big change from the traditional 12-month minimum.
`This will mean faster routes to progress for the right learners. The aim is to get people into work by equipping them with confidence and skills.
What about English and Maths?
These will still need to be studied if you haven’t passed them at GCSE – but you won’t have to re-sit the exams. The focus is on building skills, not ticking boxes.
What will you learn?
The first seven Foundation Apprenticeships have been announced and they are aligned to the country’s industrial strategy and government mission areas including: Construction, Engineering and manufacturing, Health & Social Care & Digital.
You can see the current list of Foundation Apprenticeships here.
Will you get paid?
Yes, people on a Foundation Apprenticeship will be paid a salary – these are real jobs! Employers can also access financial incentives to take on a Foundation Apprentice too.
What can you do after you complete your Foundation Apprenticeship?
There are lots of options open to you once you have completed your Foundation Apprenticeship, you can:
- Progress onto another Apprenticeship
- Go into employment
- Take up further study
Why would employers want to offer them?
Foundation apprenticeships aim to support employers in key sectors to meet their current and future skills and resource needs by developing new opportunities to engage with younger employees and build pipelines of talent.
Foundation Apprenticeships will give employers access to young people who can start to make a difference within the workplace from day one… and there are employer incentives (linked to retention and progression) of up to £2,000 on offer, too!
Are they a good option?
Yes, because they offer you a taste of the work of work and you get paid for it! They allow you to explore different industries and job roles whilst you develop practical, job-ready skills as well as gaining experience in working as part of a team, and collaborating on projects – making you super employable – oh and don’t forget you gain an industry recognised qualification too!
Want to find out more? Please contact us with your Foundation Apprenticeship enquiry.
