Apprenticeship Grant for Employers AGE

Employer Guide

Background

The National Apprenticeship Service will provide up to 40,000 Apprenticeship Grants to small / medium size employers recruiting 16 to 24 year olds with a value of £1,500, to encourage new employers to take on new 16 to 24 year old apprentices.

Priority will be given to small-medium size employers with less than 50 employees and we expect to support at least 20,000 of these to recruit an apprentice for the first time.

The National Apprenticeship Service can support a further 20,000 employers with up to 250 employees who may be recruiting their first or additional apprentices; however our focus will remain a priority to support employers NEW to apprenticeship delivery in the first instance.

When will AGE 16 to 24 be available?

The AGE 16 to 24 is available now until March 2013 for employers who are able to offer a job opportunity to a young person they recruit.

Funding will start from 1 April 2012.

However eligible employers who have employed a new apprentice from 1 February 2012 will be able to apply for the grant, subject to all the other eligibility criteria.

You will  receive the grant of £750 at the 8 week stage of the Apprenticeship, with the second £750 when the apprentice has completed 12 months of their Apprenticeship.

Should the apprentice leave or be dismissed, a proportion of the grant will be repayable at the following levels:

If the apprentice leaves or is dismissed between weeks one and eight the employer will not receive the first payment of £750

However if at this 8 week stage another eligible 16 to 24 year old is recruited as an apprentice within 4 weeks of the dismissal/leave date, no element of the grant will be recovered

If the apprentice leaves or is dismissed before completion of their Apprenticeship framework the employer will not receive the second payment of £750.

The £1,500 is in addition to the costs of training which for young people aged 16 to 18 are already fully met by the National Apprenticeship Service, with half the costs met for those aged 19 to 24.

The payment is a grant and is exempt from VAT.

Which employers are eligible to receive this new AGE 16 to 24 payment?

Our aim is to support new employers to offer new jobs in support of young people.

We particularly want to support small and medium sized employers who are interested in employing an apprentice for the first time, or who have previously employed an apprentice more than 3 years ago* and now wish to employ additional apprentices over and above their traditional level of recruitment.

*Not eligible if the employer employs an apprentice with an Individual Learning Record (ILR) start date of April 2009 or after.

Training provider Guide

What is expected of training providers?

Providers will need to ensure employers are eligible under the terms of the grant and work with them to understand their commitment when applying for it.

Employers will sign an agreement which will include:

·         Confirmation of the number of apprentices they will be taking on as a result of this incentive (to a maximum of 3)

·         Confirmation that they wouldn't have taken the apprentice on without this additional incentive

·         A commitment to employ the apprentice for at least the time it takes to achieve the Apprenticeship framework. If they fail to do this some or all the grant will be clawed back

·         Confirmation that they are aware of and do not breach any state aid rules

·         Agreement to pay the minimum Apprenticeship wage of £2.60 per hour - although most apprentices receive more than this

·         Confirmation that they have not taken on an apprentice in the previous three years.*

*Not eligible if the employer employs an apprentice with an Individual Learning Record (ILR) start date of April 2009 or after.

How will training providers be reimbursed for AGE 16 to 24 payments they pay eligible employers?

Payments will be made through the Skills Funding Agency on behalf of NAS on a monthly basis.

Training providers will not be paid a fee to administer the wage incentive. Providers will benefit from additional starts and 'easier' employer engagement. We will keep the system as simple as possible to ensure that the additional burden on providers is kept to a minimum.

We have decided not to give each provider an allocation of wage incentive places, as we want the programme to be led by employer choice. Therefore funds will be allocated on a 'first come first served' basis, but with providers expected to submit 'pipeline' information to Skills Funding Agency/NAS to help manage demand.

Employers can check their eligibility by:

Visit apprenticeships.org.uk and complete the online web enquiry form

Call the National Apprenticeship Service on 08000 150 600

An adviser from the National Apprenticeship Service will contact the employer to discuss the support available in more detail

Or they can contact you as their local Training Provider direct.

There are different levels of NMW, depending on your age and whether you are an apprentice. The current rates (from 1 October 2011) are:

·         £6.08 - the main rate for workers aged 21 and over

·         £4.98 - the 18-20 rate

·         £3.68 - the 16-17 rate for workers above school leaving age but under 18

·         £2.60 - the apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship

Effectively a 16-17-18 year old apprentice should be paid £93.60 for a 36 hour week (£2.60 per hour) which must include time off to learn

At 1^st Degree Training this is 6 hours weekly day release or 2-3 hours open learning on your premises.

A 16-17 year old not on an approved Apprenticeship should be paid £132.48 for the same 36 hours

An 18-20 year old not on an approved Apprenticeship should be paid £178.28 for the same 36 hours

A 19+ apprentice can be paid £93.60 for the first year of their apprenticeship followed by the full rate for their age.

And 21 and over not on an approved Apprenticeship should be paid £218.88 for the same 36 hours

How does this compare annually

Quick glance

Monday 5^th September   @ Clayton street Newcastle between 3pm and 5pm

Monday 12^th September @ Concord House Washington between 3pm and 5pm

Monday 19^th September @ The Precinct Blaydon between 3pm and 5pm

Monday 26^th September @ Skills Academy Team Valley between 3pm and 5pm

No appointment is necessary should you wish to attend any of the above events and if you require any additional information you may contact any of the centres direct or call Jill on 07545 644707.

20x3 1st Degree Training Advertisement_Layout 1.pdf

More than 70 local Hairdressers and Beauticians were invited to receive their Apprenticeship Framework Certificates, accompanied by their Parents, Friends and in some cases their Employers.

Supporting the event were Anne Miller and Emma Moore from the HABIA Skills Team who were providing a "Hair up and Cutting" demonstration.

Anne and Emma, following the demonstration, took pleasure in issuing the newly qualified Stylists and Therapists with their Certificates. 1st Degree Training are proud to have been delivering Apprenticeships since 1987 and have trained thousands of Hairdressers and Beauticians in its training centres in Newcastle, Gateshead and Washington.

On the night there were 3 special recognition awards to highlight learner achievement following nominations from their tutors. The first award was for Enterprise and was awrded to Maxine Edwards who has set up her own Hairdressing business since qualifying.

The next award recognised "overcoming barriers" and was awarded to Minoo Bazazzadegan who succesfully achieved her qualification despite not having English as her first language.

The final award of the night was for "Apprentice of the Year" and was awarded to Laura Rackstraw following multiple nominations. Laura was recognised for her dedication and application in achieving both her Level 2 and Level 3 Beauty Therapy qualifications.

Overall, the night was well received by everyone who attended and we look forward to hosting another event once the next group of trainee Hairdressers and Beauticians are ready to receive their certificates. In the meantime, please see our gallery for further pictures of the night.

1st Degree Training is the Apprenticeship training division of NEETA Ltd. 1st Degree Training are offering an Acrylic Nail course which will give you a new skill, as well as the confidence and ability to apply nail extensions correctly and safely.

The course, priced at £150, will last 7 weeks and includes a free starter kit to equip you with everything you need to complete the course.

The course is designed to inform Nail Technicians of the theory and Practical on how to apply nail extensions. Weeks 1 and 2 each involves a 3 hour training session in one of our specialist training centres.

Weeks 3 to 6 allow for personal practice and should include at least one set of nails per week. Week 7 concludes with practical assessment in centre with in house cerification.

For more information please contact Gemma on 0191 4904687 or 07545 644710.

Mark left Whitehaven at 11am on Saturday 17th July and set off across the Lakes. Day 1 involved negotiating a climb to 580m above sea level at Hartside.

Mark arrived in Alston at around 9:30pm where he set up camp for the night. Rising early at 6am, Mark was back on the road at 8am heading toward Black Hill, which at 609m above sea level would be the highest point on the journey.

Mark then made his way down through Consett and on to the finishing line at Sunderland at around 5pm where he was greeted by friends and family.

Mark raised £130 to support the RNLI and was understandably exhausted on completing his challenge. Mark would like to thank those sponsors for their support and he hopes to complete the challenge again in the future.

The competition sponsored by the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA) commenced at the Skills Academy in Gateshead and required Young Apprentices to choose a design and create a mood board to reflect the image they wanted to portray; they then had to style a long hair mannequin head reflecting the look. Finally they had to produce a personal statement about their experiences and the challenges they found in the styling and how they overcame them. Out of 22 entrants, independent judges picked Bryony as the winner and entrant to the National stage.
Bryony's mood board, personal statement and photographs of her mannequin were sent to HABIA in Doncaster for judging.

Entries from all over the UK were received, from the northern Scottish isles to Jersey and judges declared that this year's entries were very strong showing close relation in all competition component parts and excellent problem solving skills.
Everyone was delighted when Bryony's entry was successful in being selected as one of the final 12, a fantastic achievement which required her to go to London for the celebration event.
Accompanied by her family and training provider Susan Briganti from Neeta Ltd, Bryony travelled to London for the event which included a hair show from the HABIA skills team and International platform hairdresser Patrick Cameron. Although Bryony was not the National winner her achievement in getting to the finals is no small feat.
Presenting Bryony with her certificates, Patrick Cameron told the audience that the skills shown by the finalists exceeded those held by many "professional " stylists and spoke about the industry as a billion pound sector with opportunities for travel and fame.
Erik Lander, HABIA skills team leader and compere for the evening, added that Hairdressing and teachers in Hairdressing appear in the top five skills required for emigration to Australia.
Parents and young people attending the event were all impressed by the professionalism of the industry and the opportunities presented.
After the event Bryony celebrated with a meal out in London, some retail therapy and sightseeing.
Bryony commented "When is the next competition? Bring it on!"
I think we should all look out for Bryony Scissorhands?

On Thursday the 20th and Saturday 22nd May NEETA will open two of its training centres and would like to invite you to come and view the facilities and training on offer for aspiring Hairdressers and Beauty Therapists.

On Thursday 20th May, from 4pm until 7pm, the facilities at our Head Office on the Team Valley will be open to all.

Our friendly, experienced and professional team will be on hand to answer any questions you might have about the training we provide and offer advice and guidance to anyone looking at Hair and Beauty as a career choice.

On Saturday 22nd May, from 10am until 1pm, we will open the doors to 1st Degree Training, our specialist Hair and Beauty Training salon in the heart of Newcastle city centre.

Once again our team will be there to offer any assistance required and will be demonstrations in current hairdressing techniques.

Both centres will be open on a drop in basis and no appointments are necessary so please feel free to call in and see whats on offer. 

On Friday 5th February, Get up and Go 2010 got underway. All schools in the Gateshead borough were invited to send along pupils from years 10 & 11. Buses were provided by "The Collective" to bring pupils from their school to the Skills Academy and then back again. Different schools gave different levels of support to the day, but on the whole, attendance was good and more than 350 pupils were welcomed over the course of the day.

As well as NEETA Ltd, providers at the event included; Gateshead Council; Gateshead College; Access; Itec; Zodiac; TDR; Resources; Rainbow Training; Rathbone and Future Strategies covering a vast spectrum of Apprenticeship opportunites.
In addition, representatives came from The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and Connexions to offer independent advice and guidance to all.

Get up & Go also welcomed a special guest. Local Labour MP Dave Anderson to the event. Mr Anderson, who undertook an Apprenticeship after leaving school, took time from his busy schedule to visit all of the providers at the event and also spoke to some of the pupils to see what they thought.
Mr Anderson said "Events such as this are extremely important in ensuring our young people are fully informed about the many options available to them after leaving school.

"Apprenticeships and work-based learning provide a great opportunity to study and gain experience and skills at the same time. They offer a very direct route into employment and employers are increasingly recognising the benefits they get from hiring apprentices."

On Saturday 6th February, Get up & Go opened its doors and everyone was welcome to come and view the facilities on offer at the Skills Academy and learn more about options available. Connexions sent out literature to every year 10, 11, 12 & 13 students in Gateshead, inviting them to attend the Saturday event. There was advertising on local Radio and Press, however, the attendance was down on last year.

Across the 2 days we received alot of very positive feedback. By completing an event evaluation form, attendees were entered into a prize draw. 2 lucky winners each received a Netbook supplied by the Gateshead Collective.

Dates for Get up & Go 2011 are yet to be announced-Watch this space...

They want you to share your views in surveys and feedback about your life as a learner. The first TWENTY students from NEETA Ltd will be sent a £4 in shopping vouchers just for joining up. Plus you'll get occasional feedback and £1 or £2 in shopping vouchers every time you take part in a survey.

Find out more at Learner Survey

If you are hoping to earn and learn with an Apprenticeship or Work Based Learning programme then Get Up & Go is a great chance for young people, parents and carers to ask questions about the types of work available and the money on offer. You can find out what it's really like to earn and learn in areas like Hairdressing, Construction, Engineering, Retail, Motor Vehicle Trades, Beauty Therapy, Business Admin and many more.

Some of the feedback received from Get Up & Go 2009 included comments such as: "It was very good and easy to understand", "Very informative and useful" and "Great fun Thank you!".

Whats more, by attending the event and completing an evaluation form, you could win a Lap Top computer or an Ipod. Last years winners included Gary Jacobs from Hilltop School (Pictured below left), Robert Frey from Ponteland High School (Centre) and Catherine Wilkinson from Cardinal Hume (Right).

For a summary of Get Up & Go 2009 Please click get up & go review.doc

To recognise and celebrate the achievements of its' Apprentices, NEETA Ltd held an awards night at Tiger Tiger in Newcastle City Centre. The awards were hosted by NEETA's Managing Director Susan Briganti and learners were presented with their certificates by Sharon Gladstone, from Matrix (Pictured left).

The event, held on the 7th December 2009, was extremely well attended. Those receiving awards were joined by family and friends and some by their employers who came to celebrate their achievements with them.

Leading up to the Awards night, Learners and Tutors had been asked to nominate people they felt warranted special recognition. As a result, there were 7 Special Recognition awards made on the night.

The first award was to Rebecca Humble. Rebecca joined NEETA Ltd on our alternative curriculum programme in May 2008. Rebecca overcame difficult circumstances whilst still at school and since joining NEETA, has already completed her NVQ Level 1 in Hairdressing. Rebecca has progressed onto E2E and is working towards her Hairdressing NVQ Level 2. Rebecca has achieved this whilst adapting to independent living and developing life skills.

Next was Cheyenne Cole. Cheyenne was on our E2E programme and by applying herself was able to overcome a number of difficulties to achieve her NVQ Level 1 and Key Skills. She has since progressed onto a Foundation Apprenticeship and has made considerable progress towards her NVQ Level 2.

Our first Apprentice to be recognised is Tracy Goodburn. Tracy was nominated by 3 members of staff all of whom called for Tracy to be recognised for the consistently high standard of work which she produced throughout her Level 2 and then her Level 3 qualifications in Beauty Therapy.

Next up was Francesca Clark. Francesca has completed her Level 3 in Hairdressing during which time her timekeeping was exemplary. Francesca always attended NEETA in a positive manner and displayed an ability and willingness to learn at all times. Her dedication saw her progress quickly through her Level 3 and she often did well when entered for competition work.

The winner from our Adult Apprentices was Afsi Heydari. Afsi has not quite fully completed her Level 2 Beauty Therapy qualification, however, she is well on the way. As English is not her first language, Afsi has had to really apply herself. Showing great drive and enthusiasm, Afsi has overcome the barriers she has encountered and looks set to become an accomplished Therapist.

Special thanks to photographyforlittlepeople for covering the event. Anyone wishing to purchase photographs from the night should contact Jen/Mel or visit their website.