Apprentice projects

Future Horizons Apprentice @ Your Business

Future Horizons Apprentice @ Your Business is designed as an employment progression route for young people aged 16 – 18 who have already completed Lancashire County Council's Future Horizons project. It allows the young person to achieve a Level 2 qualification whilst importantly placing them with a supportive and enthusiastic employer within the private sector to develop their potential further.

If you are a young person and interested in this to develop your career then you will need to have been on the Future Horizons project and gained your work-ready qualification and completed your eight week work experience.
We will match your career aspirations with the right employer for you to help you as much as possible.
We will also provide links with specialist trainers in your chosen area of employment to make sure you are receiving the best advice possible.
You will have the opportunity to gain a Level 2 qualification whist earning as you learn.
You will be mentored throughout your two year placement.

If you are an employer and interested in taking part in this:

• You must be a small or medium sized company or social enterprise within Lancashire.
• You must employ less than 250 employees.
• One of our Recruitment Officers will work with you to make sure that the needs of your business are being met every step of the way.
• You will be provided with any additional business support you may need.

Benefits of this project for employers include:

• Recruitment of an enthusiastic and motivated young person to work within your business.
• The young person will be work –ready  and must have completed an extended work placement already.
• You will receive up to £3,000 incentive payments which will be paid to you in instalments.
• You will receive 2 years free membership to the Chamber of Commerce.
• The young person will be matched to best fit your business needs and so help to fill any skills gaps you may have and grow your business.

To find out more about this exciting new business opportunity visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/fhapprentice.

Supported Apprenticeships Project 2008 - 2011

The aims of the Supported Apprenticeship Project are to:

• raise the achievement of young people through work-based learning;
• engage young people in learning, who currently fall into the "Not in employment, education or Training" (NEET) group
• increase the engagement of employers in workforce development in Lancashire.

LCDL Supported Apprenticeship project was developed with Lancashire County Councils Children and Young People's Service and CXL. CXL will deliver the three year project on behalf of LCC to support 60 young people and businesses in Lancashire.

The three year LCDL Supported Apprenticeship Project will be delivered across Lancashire (excluding Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen) between 1 April 2008 – 30 April 2011. It will deliver 60 apprenticeship opportunities to vulnerable NEET young people with priority given to young people who are Looked After and Leaving Care. The apprentices will be matched to small businesses in Lancashire who have growth potential where they will undertake a NVQ level 2 apprenticeship taking up to two year. During the two years both the apprentice and employer will receive a comprehensive package of support to enable both to thieve during the two year.

The project is aimed at targeting young people who fall into the following categories;

• 16 - 19 years old
• not in education, employment or training (NEET)
• looked After or Leaving Care or other excluded groups (Teenage parents, BME, young offenders)
• less than 5 A-C GCSE's.

Young people engaged on the project will receive a full range of support including;

• psychometric assessments to gauge potential and identify occupational choices and interests
• pre-recruitment training and support to boost employability skills and prospects
• vacancies with supportive employers offering apprenticeships in a variety of occupational sectors
• ongoing mentoring and advocacy support in the workplace throughout the apprenticeship

The project is aimed at engaging businesses that are;

• small or medium enterprises (up to 250 employees)
• based in Lancashire (excluding Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen)
• have growth potential
• willing to support a young person to achieve an NVQ level 2 apprenticeship

Businesses engaged on the project will receive the following benefits;

• add value to the business through a well-trained, highly productive and motivated employee.
• access to specialist employer hand book
• financial wage subsidies for up to two years (up to £60 per week in the first year and up to £40 in the second year towards the wage of the apprentice)
• ongoing support and advocacy throughout the apprenticeship
• opportunities to improve the future of local young people
• marketing of vacancies on the CXL website and through Lancashire County Councils Young Peoples Service

Businesses are encouraged to contact CXL to find out more information on the benefits to the business by supporting a young person to complete an apprenticeship.