GM Commitment to Youth Employment

Alex HowleyNew Economy27th April 2012

GM Commitment to Youth EmploymentEmployers across Greater Manchester are encouraged to take up financial incentives and offers of support and to show their commitment to our youth by pledging to do one or more of the following:

• Recruit a young person and/or use more inclusive recruitment practices

• Take on an apprentice, and ‘try before you buy’ via an apprenticeship trial.

• Offer a work experience placement• Volunteer as a mentor for a young person

The Aims of GM Commitment Apprenticeship Grant

• To have one programme across GM as a statement of our joint commitment to youth employment.

• To maximise the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) employer incentives of £1,500 per apprentice.

• To benefit young unemployed Greater Manchester residents and provide an opportunity for them to contribute to the GM economy.

What is it?

The GM Commitment Apprenticeship Grant provides grant funding for the following:• An Apprenticeship/Work Trial – An opportunity for

an employer to try before they buy and for the individual to demonstrate their worth to the employer.

• An Apprenticeship Sustainment Grant – A payment of £750 to the employer once the apprenticeship has been sustained for 8 weeks.

The Offer

16-24 year old benefit claimant into L2/3 Apprenticeship

£1200

16-24 year old NEET/unemployed not in receipt of benefits into a L2 /3

Apprenticeship £1500

£400 claimed by Provider to cover:

£40 per week Training Allowance (lunch and travel) and additional

bespoke purchases (tools, equipment) during trial

period

£1,100 claimed by Provider; £750 of which is passed to Employer when Apprenticeship has been

sustained for 8 weeks.

Eligibility

• All employers are eligible for a GM Commitment Grant regardless of size, sector, location, or if they have recruited apprentices before.

• A GM Commitment Grant can be utilised with all other available Employer Incentive Grants.

• The individual must be a Greater Manchester resident, 16-24 years old, NEET/ Unemployed and referred from JCP, Connexions, Local Authority or a Work Programme Provider.

GM Commitment Process

Entry point• Apprenticeship vacancy

brokered• referral of young person

from JCP; Connexions; Local Authority or Work Programme

• recruitment

Apprenticeship Trial• between 2 and 8 weeks;

in some cases longer.• training allowance paid or

voucher to cover expences

• 'working interview' with employer

• training as necessary

Apprenticeship • start apprenticeship

framework• after sustaining job

for 8 weeks, employer receives incentive of £750

Flow Diagram

Step 1 •Employer identified with Apprenticeship Opportunity and willing to take on NEET/Unemployed

Step 2 •Vacancy specification drawn up and sent to NE on GM Commitment Vacancy Form •Vacancy circulated by NE to SPOC’s including JCP, Connexions and Work Programme providers

Step 3 •Referrals made from above agencies back to Training Provider•Training provider supports employer with recruitment and selection process•Candidate chosen

Step 4 •Employer and Training Provider decide if an Apprenticeship/Work Trial is needed. Training Provider & successful candidate fill in the GM Commitment New Starter Form. If not go to Step 6.

Step 5 •Decide length up to 8 weeks and complete an Apprenticeship/Work Trial Agreement •Candidate receives £40 per week allowance if a non-claimant or £10 of vouchers per week if a claimant•After 10 working days of the trial TP Claims a payment of £400 for a non-claimant and £100 for a claimant

Step 6 •Once the trial period finishes and if it’s been successful the candidate is employed by the employer onto an apprenticeship •After the apprenticeship has been sustained for 8 weeks the TP and employer complete the GM Commitment Employer Grant Form and the TP claims £1,100 •The TP passes on £750 to the employer and retains £350 as an outcome payment

Next Steps

• Expression of interest (closed 20th April 2012).

• Training Provider Agreement issued in the next few days.

• Programme goes live 8th May 2012.

Questions?