Suffolk County Council – Apprenticeships Suffolk

Apprenticeships Suffolk launched in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This presented numerous challenges that the council had to quickly overcome. The main challenge was working from home which meant having to develop the operational procedures of the project virtually, whilst also establishing a strong working relationship. Working from home also meant the council could not network as effectively as it had hoped and were unable to host a launch event to promote brand awareness and provide face to face information about the project. The council needed to find innovative ways to build connections to support the aims and objectives of the project.

Another challenge of starting a project during a pandemic, was that small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) were closed due to lockdowns. Financial uncertainties meant employers were nervous about bringing in new members of staff, including apprentices. Employer engagement was slow to start and therefore the opportunities were not being created in great numbers. In contrast, there was a demand for employment due to redundancies and school leavers looking for an alternative to further education. As a result, there were not enough apprenticeship opportunities available within the local area to meet the demand. Some people were also nervous about starting an apprenticeship during a pandemic. This made it even more crucial to provide a supportive service to promote the apprenticeship pathway.

The pandemic also highlighted the severity of digital poverty within Suffolk. This prevented some participants and employers accessing the service effectively, as the council was not able to offer face to face appointments. Some had difficulties completing forms online and the only support that could be offered was over the phone.

There is a common misconception that apprenticeships are only available to school leavers aged 16-18. Therefore, it was important to convey the message that they are available for anyone over the age of 16. At the start of the project most of the enquiries were primarily coming from 16–18 year olds looking for an apprenticeship opportunity. Apprenticeships Suffolk aims to break down stereotypes and increase participation from a wider age demographic.

There is also a significant lack of apprenticeship opportunities for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who may require additional support and/or reasonable adjustments to complete their apprenticeship qualification. Apprenticeships Suffolk wants to promote equal opportunities and highlight the need for inclusive apprenticeships.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Apprenticeships Suffolk has developed and grown to become the established service it is today. Although working from home in the beginning presented challenges, the council found that over the longer term, having access to different virtual platforms strengthened the team’s communications and they were able to adapt their ways of working to enable the successful delivery of the project. The council was therefore able to provide ongoing support to SMEs and businesses as well as aspiring apprentices in Suffolk.

Networking opportunities became virtual meetings over platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Skype. Members of the team had existing industry relevant contacts from previous roles which were utilised throughout the delivery of the service to promote the project which led to various meetings and introductions to new contacts. This proved to be an effective way of networking and the council plans to continue to use these platforms as it also comes with added value from delivering projects in a more sustainable way, as it eliminates travel and saves time. In addition to the above platforms, the council has been able to effectively promote its service and build connections virtually through digital resources, virtual presentations, and the use of social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. This has also been cost effective as some resources were free to create using software like Wordpress, Canva and PowerPoint.

To effectively provide support and create apprenticeship opportunities, the council targeted specific industries that throughout the pandemic were still open and needed more staff to support with the demands of increased workload. These included sectors such as, Auto-care, Plumbing & Heating, Landscaping, Horticulture and Childcare. They also sought opportunities tailored around the needs and career interests of referral participants. When approaching employers, the council also ensured they received full information, advice, and guidance around apprenticeships to equip them with the tools to make an informed decision. They also promoted the current Government financial incentives available to employers, to encourage employers to take on a new apprentice and support them throughout their apprenticeship. To date 27 apprenticeship opportunities have been created with learning also successfully opened.

In November 2021, Apprenticeships Suffolk, and members of Suffolk County Council’s skills team, hosted a Skills Marketplace Event, inviting a variety of organisations and projects to showcase what they have to offer, to the people of Suffolk. This was a fantastic networking opportunity to spread the word about the services available to support the economic growth of the county.

As restrictions eased, they were also able to attend face to face sessions, and Apprenticeships Suffolk received several invitations from Schools, asking them to deliver presentations and provide information about apprenticeships, and the service, to students to help them consider their post-16 options. This was an opportunity to breakdown stereotypes and provide up to date information about the apprenticeship pathway for young people to consider as an alternative to mainstream education.

In addition to this engagement with young people, the council also teamed up with several organisations who work with older adults, in an attempt to raise awareness of apprenticeships such as DWP. This can be a great starting point for someone wanting a career change or for someone who is looking to upskill in their existing career. The Apprenticeship Suffolk team is also collaborating with staff from other council services to promote apprenticeships to job seekers.

Apprenticeships Suffolk has also contributed to reducing digital poverty in Suffolk through a variety of ways. In December 2020 they were granted funding for a Digital Call Laptop Loan Scheme. They were granted Chromebook laptops to offer to participants within Apprenticeships Suffolk to assist with job searches, CV writing and their apprenticeship work. This loan scheme has proven extremely beneficial to those who do not have access to laptops or a digital device that could restrict them from accessing an apprenticeship opportunity.

Another way the service has helped reduce digital poverty is through its Access to Apprenticeships financial grant, which was launched in April 2021. This grant is designed to remove potential invisible barriers through financially supporting a new apprentice. It offers two individual packages, each worth £500.00, and is awarded to the employer following a successful apprenticeship start. One of the grant packages is for Additional Equipment meaning this £500.00 could fund a laptop or digital device to support the apprentice with their apprenticeship work.

Finally, the service aims to support participant and employer needs throughout, by offering telephone calls and face to face meetings when safe to do so to enable participants to complete forms which may not be accessible to those without the digital facilities.

Since the conception of the project, there has been a significant rise in the demand for opportunities for people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Inclusive apprenticeships are designed to break down barriers and create employment opportunities for people with cognitive, physical, mental health and sensory disabilities. No person should be subject to discrimination or disadvantaged for having a SEND. Inclusive apprenticeships provide a supportive environment for learners to develop the skills and experience needed to achieve the qualifications they need to succeed in their chosen careers. Inclusive Apprenticeships provides an alternative and flexible approach to mainstream education, which is tailored towards the individuals chosen career path.

The council has teamed up with neighbouring county councils, to collaborate on an effective approach, by learning from what has already been done, what works, and what does not. They are beginning to have open conversations with employers with regards to the benefits of providing an inclusive apprenticeship offer, and they are also providing up to date information with regards to some of the support available to both the employer and the apprentice, as well as some of the financial incentives on offer. Inclusive apprenticeships can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual and therefore the entry requirements and duration of the apprenticeship can be adjusted accordingly to support the individual to succeed.

It is important that apprenticeships should be available to all, and a core aim underpinning the service is that the development of inclusive apprenticeships will empower people with SEND, to achieve their career goals through an alternative means to mainstream education.

The impact Apprenticeships Suffolk has achieved so far is creating quality apprenticeship opportunities by providing up to date information, advice, and guidance to SME businesses in Suffolk. Anyone aged 16+ can access employment and training opportunities and receive ongoing support throughout the apprenticeship journey, thus increasing economic growth in Suffolk and reducing NEET figures. The goal is also to prevent a breakdown in the apprenticeship placements by offering ongoing support to the employer, apprentice and training provider or college and picking up on early warning signs that could lead to a breakdown in the apprenticeship. If the apprenticeship does come to an early finish (this can be for a multitude of reasons), it is vital that the apprentice stays supported to find either a new employer to enable completion of the apprenticeship, or new apprenticeship, training, or employment placement.

Apprenticeships Suffolk aims to make an impact in the future by creating equal opportunities for all and reduce stereotypes which may be preventing people achieving their career goals. The team is also evaluating how the service can provide added value support by collecting feedback and seeing what gaps there are within the education and skills sector to develop a skills pipeline through the provision of apprenticeships based around current needs.

The project has now been running for 18 months and its processes and procedures are constantly under review. A trial-and-error approach is employed to establish what works well within and what might need adjusting or improving. The service is flexible in its ways of working and using initiative is important to ensure that an effective service is delivered. This is achieved through feedback and regular team discussions.

As part of its project growth, the council is currently in the process of launching two research and pilot projects. One pilot project aims to address any barriers to the creation of quality apprenticeships. It is an extension of the current Apprenticeships Suffolk service, available to those individuals who are not apprenticeship/work ready yet. These barriers are preventing participants from progressing onto a sustainable apprenticeship opportunity.

A specialist service will be procured to provide 1-1 support and group activities to create a wraparound holistic support, coaching, and mentoring service to enable participants to become ‘apprenticeship ready’. The support from Apprenticeships Suffolk can then continue.

The second pilot project will generate apprenticeship opportunities and support the development and employability of potential candidates by using the Sector Based Work Academy approach to support sectors where recruitment has been affected by COVID-19. This will provide support to employers with the recruitment of apprenticeship ready candidates, providing a mechanism of engagement, support, and accredited training for the participants. In turn, this will provide an alternative and clear pathway to an apprenticeship opportunity for participants not currently active in the labour market.

Other key areas are also considered which form an important part of the service including cross cutting themes such as technology, environmental sustainability, general well-being, gender equality, diversity and inclusion and poverty reduction, which are all reviewed quarterly throughout the year.

Apprenticeships Suffolk is currently 18 months into a three year project, and therefore the council is still learning and adapting its approach. Starting a new project, meant that there was an element of trial and error in terms of how the project was to be delivered. For example, the initial concept of Apprenticeships Suffolk was to be an employer facing project, offering employer focused advice and guidance to increase the quality and quantity of apprenticeship opportunities across Suffolk. It has since been realised that the participant focus is equally as important to provide a holistic support service which endeavours to make the apprenticeship a success. In the council’s experience, you cannot have one without the other and they have found that in some cases, having an impartial third party to step in and resolve any issues which can arise, has proved to be effective in seeing the apprenticeship through to completion.

Initially, Apprenticeships Suffolk was designed to be a support service for SMEs but there are many Levy paying employers who have also contacted the service. Moving forward, should the project be extended beyond 3-years, there is scope for the project to evolve to work with bigger businesses and provide added value by increasing the number of apprentices across all business types in Suffolk.

Another learning has been that most participant enquiries coming through the service, are people looking for opportunities where there is not enough availability of these jobs in Suffolk. The council has therefore also worked collaboratively with other services, such as the Youth Pledge for Employers project, which seeks to create work experience opportunities for young people to assist them in developing skills for other types of jobs and develop an alternative career pathway for jobs that they have better access to in Suffolk. 

In taking this collaborative approach, they can signpost participants elsewhere in the hope that an apprenticeship opportunity may be created following some quality work experience.

Website: Apprenticeships Suffolk

Email: [email protected]