New Apprenticeship grant for employers

Walsall College is currently gearing up to enhance the support it offers to employers, following the Government’s announcement of an initiative to support up to 40,000 new Apprenticeships.

The Apprenticeships Grant for Employers (AGE 16-24) is for small-medium sized employers with less than 250 employees, and comprises a payment of £1,500 payable in two stages. It is set to be available to small firms in all industries and for Apprenticeships at all levels from April 2012 until March 2013.

The employer will receive the first payment for £750 once the apprentice reaches the 8 week point of their programme, and will receive the second payment for £750 once the individual has completed 12 months of their Apprenticeship Programme. The initiative is part of a wider £1 billion package of support to encourage small businesses to employ young people.

Apprenticeships allow people to gain their qualifications in the workplace, earning a wage whilst working alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. They receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications in a flexible way, to fully meet the needs of the individual employer.

Walsall College offers support to employers in the recruitment and assessment of apprentices, saving companies valuable money in recruitment fees. The College offers a full range of Apprenticeships to employers of all sizes, and is well prepared for an increase in demand.

Principal and Chief Executive of Walsall College, Jatinder Sharma said: “In the current economic climate, Apprenticeships are becoming increasingly important, giving young people the opportunity to gain valuable skills and real work experience that will lead to greater employment prospects in the future. Apprenticeships are also a fantastic way for businesses to develop new talent and pass their skills on to the next generation of workers.

“We are delighted that the Government has released additional funding to support smaller businesses and we are actively looking to speak to those interested in taking advantage of this exciting opportunity. Walsall College is committed to delivering high quality Apprenticeships and work-based NVQs that will support companies during harder times, helping them achieve success now and in the future.”

Businesses interested in enquiring about apprenticeship training with Walsall College should contact Jeanette Breckles on 01922 651159 or e-mail jbreckles@walsallcollege.ac.uk. Walsall College will also be holding a free breakfast event at Wisemore Campus on Friday 16th March 7am – 9am, where employers can learn more about the new funding, including the Walsall Works initiative. For further information and to register for the event, please register on the events page at www.walsallcollege.ac.uk.