New support for apprenticeships launched

NEW measures to help employers take on apprentices have been launched this week.

With A-Level results out last week and GCSEs this week, the National Apprenticeship Service want to ensure that bosses have all the information they need.

One major boost is the announcement that the £1,500 ‘Apprenticeship Grant for Employers’ has been extended for 16-24 year olds for another year. The grant is designed to help businesses (with less than 1,000 employees) recruit apprentices and has so far enabled over 30,000 young people to start an apprenticeship.  
 
Another development is the launch of the new ‘Av Live’ feed , an online tool that allows local colleges, training providers and other apprenticeship partners in the North West to embed up-to-the-minute apprenticeship vacancies on their websites.  
 
Av Live takes five minutes to set up and can be easily tailored to show apprenticeship vacancies by job role, provider, location and other search options.

NAS has also made it easier for companies to access information and support about apprencticeships with a ‘Find an Apprenticeship Training Organisation’ online search tool.

Sue Price, divisional area director for the National Apprenticeship Service in the North, said: “The resources we’re announcing this week provide local employers in the North West with all the information they need in order to hire an apprentice, in an easy to digest format.  

“Av Live in particular will ensure that employer vacancies will now reach more potential apprentices – at no cost to the employer.  We hope all of this additional help will encourage more firms to hire an apprentice and realise how Apprenticeships can deliver for their business.”