4. DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS & QUALIFICATIONS

4.4Access

Managed Modern Apprenticeship Programme - Scotland

Through an initiative created last year by the e-skills NTO, companies in Scotland have access to new funds to help them with training costs of young employees aged 16 - 24. These additional government funds were offered to IT employers as a result of the e-skills NTO raising awareness of skills shortages. Further more, financial help is now also available for candidates aged over 25.

Many employers wish to offer employees accredited development programmes such as the Modern Apprenticeship. This provides structured development and training, covering both technical and interpersonal skills, with progress measured in terms of competence in the workplace. With a Modern Apprenticeship, employees qualified to an e-skills NTO SVQ level three and core skills. However, some employers are inhibited by the costs and the time needed to manage the delivery of the Apprenticeship. Employers were telling the e-skills NTO that they would be interested in outsourced ‘managed apprenticeship’ programmes, if this could reduce administrative and organisational overheads.

Working with XLTEK Electronics Ltd, Triage Services Ltd and Learning IT, the e-skills NTO is piloting a new ‘managed’ Modern Apprenticeship programme. Employers wishing to use the scheme may also receive some government funding to cover costs of in-house training, or to pay for training from a third party training organisation. Applications will be welcomed from other companies that are interested in this scheme. There is substantial funding available for existing employees or new recruits within companies throughout Scotland and any company who has employees based on other sites will be able to engage with one funding body.

Contact: Michael Kowbel on or

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