Traineeships proposed by coalition
Plans for a new programme to equip young people with the skills they need to compete for apprenticeships and other jobs have been set out by skills minister Matthew Hancock.
The new Traineeships programme, which could be in place by September 2013, would provide young people aged 16 to 24 with a tailor-made package of support that will give them the confidence, skills and experience to compete in the labour market with more experienced adults. A Traineeship could be seen as a stepping stone to an apprenticeship — a job with training to industry standards — or other jobs, for those young people who currently lack the necessary skills.
Employers, education and training providers, and young people have been invited to comment on the government’s proposals to help develop the new programme. A discussion paper sets out the government’s ideas for traineeships, which would include:
• focused work preparation training — such as CV writing, interview preparation, job searching, inter-personal skills,
• high-quality work experience — giving young people real-life work placements to enhance their skills and confidence;
• English and maths — for young people who have not achieved a GCSE grade C or equivalent or better.
The initiative is part of the government’s wider aim to ensure the future workforce possesses the skills that employers want in their apprentices and employees.