Traineeships

The government has announced that more than 100 employers across the country have committed to being part of the traineeships programme.

Traineeships will be available from August and will offer 16 to 24 year olds a package of training and work experience to give them the skills and confidence to get a job or an apprenticeship.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/news/mercedes-benz-bt-and-brompton-bicycle-back-traineeships-to-get-young-people-ready-for-work.

The government has published a framework for delivery which sets out how traineeships will work. It takes on board the views of more than 450 responses to the traineeships discussion paper published in January 2013.

The framework reveals that for 19-24 year olds, the programme will be available only for those who have not yet achieved their first full level two qualification, which is the equivalent to five GCSEs grade A* to C. However for 16-19 year olds, providers will have flexibility to work with young people who have level two qualifications but not level three.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-young-people-to-develop-the-skills-for-apprenticeships-and-sustainable-employment-framework-for-delivery.

FE Week has also published a 16-page special report on traineeships, in partnership with OCR, which can be downloaded at http://lsect.co.uk/Traineeship-special-report.pdf.

Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced that young people who are disabled will be given help to find employment through a Supported Internship programme and the Traineeship programme.

The Department for Education funded Supported Internships will offer specialised employment-focused study programmes for young people aged 16 to 24 with complex learning difficulties and disabilities.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-two-new-programmes-for-employers-to-take-on-young-disabled-people.

The government has also announced that disabled people on traineeships, supported internships, work trials and work academies will get additional help through the Access to Work scheme, which provides funding towards the extra costs disabled people face in work, such as travel costs, specially adapted equipment or support workers.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/news/drive-to-get-more-disabled-people-into-mainstream-jobs.