Progression to Apprenticeships

THIS GRANT IS NOW CLOSED FOR NEW APPLICATIONS

Progression to Apprenticeships [P2A] was a pilot project running for a limited period, until 31st December 2022.

This project was part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund (CRF) and was designed to pilot holistic interventions in order to understand what really works in supporting individuals/businesses into apprenticeships. P2A incentivised and supported progression from a feeder programme (e.g.Kickstart, Traineeship or Sector-based Work Academy Programme) on to an apprenticeship, in Norfolk.

The P2A 'package of support'

Financial support:

Financial support at transition and in the first 26 weeks reduces financial burden for the organisation at a time when the new apprentice absorbs more resource (supervision and mentoring) and is gradually building the ability to 'add value' to the organisation. By providing the P2A package from the point of transition and creating a clear and cost-effective mechanism for employers to access existing cohorts of job-ready individuals, it mitigates some of the risks and costs associated with the onboarding and mentoring of new employees. The financial package included:

A £1500 incentive; £500 paid on signup, £1000 paid after 8 weeks.
A 6 month wage contribution; paid upfront in two instalments, based on 37 hours a week at the apprenticeship NMW rate of £4.81 (one instalment at sign up and one after 8 weeks).
A £300 for 'added value' training option.

Practical support:

The practical support included individualised information and guidance sessions with Apprenticeships Norfolk, alongside tailored training solutions to help employers and apprentices feel supported/equipped to enhance their skills. Development opportunities for staff charged with supporting new recruits and for the new employees looking to improve their study skills and use of digital learning technologies will increase the likelihood of a confident and successful apprenticeship journey - thus creating longer-term achievement, sustainability and retention. The practical support package included:

5 hours of individualised wrap-around support, including an 'Employer Induction session from Apprenticeships Norfolk, to understand/facilitate the burdensome apprenticeship administration process.
Funded training for the employer (e.g. Mentoring, Managing Remotely, Digital Skills etc).
Funded training for the apprentice (e.g. Digital Skills, Resilience/Mental Health, Planning & Organisation, Assertiveness etc).
Access to peer support via the Apprenticeships Norfolk Employer Network.

Enjoy reading the final 'Progression to Apprenticeships ~ NCC Evaluation' (PDF, 6 MB) or the external report 'Progression to Apprenticeships ~ Evaluation by ATQ' (PDF, 644 KB)

Email [email protected] if you would like more details about this project.

Note: The evaluation reports may not be accessible to some users. To request the information in an alternative format, please email [email protected]