Introducing The Apprenticeship Works V3 02.02.2010

1. Introducing The Apprenticeship WorksV3 02.02.2010

2. Background • Following the success of Apprenticeship Training Agencies in Australia • (ATA’s), The West Midlands National Apprenticeship Service (WMNAS) • viewed this model as the perfect solution to businesses, particularly SME’s • in the West Midlands struggling with cost effective staffing solutions and • training providers struggling to find paid vacancies to place their earners. • WMNAS set out a bid for various public and private sector organisations and training institutes to become involved in setting up a series of fully funded ATA pilots in the UK, to meet this demand. • In November 2009 BCTG Ltd. Won a stake in this bid and received funding from WMNAS to become one of the first pilot ATA’s. BCTG opened its first dedicated pilot ATA branch in Wolverhampton centre under the trading brand: ‘The Apprenticeship works’.

3. So What is it? • ‘The Apprenticeship Works’ is a brand new alternative to the modern day recruitment and training agency. It combines the best search and selection, payroll and account management services of an agency with our ability to Broker out Apprenticeship training to our panel of apprenticeship Providers. • ‘The Apprenticeship Works’ has a skilled team made up of recruitment and training professionals, a finance support officer for payroll services and a dedicated vacancy matcher. This unique blend of skills enables us to offer the whole service package to employers and providers alike with single points of contact for each department.

4. So how does it work? • OurApprentice Brokers will engage with employers to generate new vacancies for the agency and where an opportunity is identified, complete a full ONA and Job Description to return to the office. • The Agency Vacancy Matcher will then source and pre-screen a list of apprentices on the phone and make arrangements for a face to face interview. • Successful candidates are then forwarded to the employer and the Apprentice Broker for selection with details of a suitable Apprenticeship Provider selected from our panel. • The Agency will then employ the successful Apprentice on a weekly BACS pay run, taking full responsibility for things like holiday and sick pay, taking the liability off the employer for the duration of the assignments.

5. Key Target Groups: • Initially the Agency will target the following groups of young people • (in no specific order): • Current Programme Led Apprentices (PLA) • E2E and Pre-Apprenticeship Learners able to progress into employment • NEET Programme learners • 16-18 Year Olds in Jobs without Training • ‘The Apprenticeship Works’ will also aim to target specific industry sectors that have seen little uptake in apprentices in the past: • Public Sector • Financial Services • Creative Industries • ICT • Facilities & Property Management

6. Employer Benefits • ‘The Apprenticeship Works’ is highly cost effective, typically employers can pay anything up to £400+ per week for recruitment agency staff, through us it's only £160.00per week for a full time worker! • ‘The Apprenticeship Works’ services are completely FREE to our Apprenticeship providers and sub-contractors. • ‘The Apprenticeship Works’ does not charge a release ‘bounty’ if the employer then decides to take on the apprentice as their employee to encourage long term placement. • ‘The Apprenticeship Works’ is straightforward and flexible. No long term contractual commitments.

7. Apprentice Benefits • Employed Status - attracting benefits such as sickness & holiday pay • Extended Experience – different companies, different situations enhancing transferable skills and improving employability. • Training – learner continues to receive on the job training towards their framework as usual, with few gaps between each assignment. • Support – where needed additional IAG and Pastoral Support will provided by the agency to aid retention and progression. • Enhanced weekly pay – The Agency pay £110per week to the Apprentice. £15.00 more than the government minimum of £95.00

8. Provider Benefits • Enhanced paid vacancies – providers can benefit from access to increased numbers of paid placements in their region for Apprenticeship starts FREE of charge. • Additional support – providers get enhanced retention of learners from active engagement by our brokers and pastoral support team. • Low risk – Providers have the peace of mind that even if an apprentice has to move assignment, they will be in a new ‘like for like’ placement prior to their assignment ending. We aim to convert short term assignments into long term, directly employed places whilst you remain the dedicated provider so reducing impact on framework delivery.

9. Next steps... For Employers: To arrange a no obligation visit to discuss how we can benefit your organisation simply call us on Tel: 0845 873 38 55 For Providers & Partners: To request an Expression Of Interest form, simply e-mail: reteca.sharma@theapprenticeshipworks.com For Apprentice’s looking for work: Simply call Tel: 0845 873 38 55 to register your interest with the agency

10. Any questions ?