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Places available on Interior Systems Installer Training course

Places available on Interior Systems Installer Training course

by | 21 Jan, 2022 | Main News Feed, Skills

The National Construction College in Bircham Newton (Norfolk) have scheduled two courses to train apprentices in Drylining Fixer Boarder and Interior Systems Installer. These are block release courses and are scheduled to start on the following dates:

  • Monday 12 September 2022
  • Monday 28 November 2022

For full details please contact Andrew Voase, andrew.voase@citb.co.uk 07798 628902 or Trudie Blackshaw, trudie.blackshaw@citb.co.uk telephone 07770 841816.

If an employer or group of employers have at least 12 apprentices, that they would like trained at NCC East prior to the scheduled courses above, NCC have offered to provide a further course. Email FIS Skills and Training Lead George Swann with the following information to register your interest

  • Your organisation
  • Named contact and contact details
  • Number of apprentices
  • Which option, Dryliner or Ceilings and partitions
  • Preferred start date for the apprentices training

The apprenticeship standard is available at https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/interior-systems-installer-v1-0 this provides the criteria on which the training programmes are based.

For organisations that are CITB registered, grants are available for apprentice travel and subsistence covering up to 80% of the costs, please see: Apprenticeship travel and accommodation funding ‘Travel to Train’ – CITB

Help needed for development of traineeship for drylining occupations

Help needed for development of traineeship for drylining occupations

by | 21 Jan, 2022 | Drylining, Skills

CITB is looking for support to assist with its development of a traineeship for drylining occupations.

Employers and subject matter experts are invited to the meeting on Friday 28 January between 13:00 – 15:00. If you are interested in attending, contact Alexandra Lee at CITB on 07500 880181 or email alexandra.lee@citb.co.uk.  To view the current version please see: Draft Dry Lining Traineeship v6.docx

What is a Traineeship
A traineeship is a skills development programme that includes a work experience placement.  Traineeships help prepare young people aged 16 to 24, or 25 with an education, health and care plan, for employment or an apprenticeship.  Traineeships must include at least 70 hours of work experience placement.  They can last from 6 weeks up to 1 year, but most last less than 6 months.  Employers can offer a work experience placement to a trainee.  They will work with a training provider to design the workplace element of the programme.  Traineeships are introductory courses to attract individuals, at risk of becoming long term unemployed into employment, the training should be broad and provide as much variety as possible with the work experience placement focused on a specialism.

The training provider will assess the needs of the trainee.  Trainees may need pre-employment training before starting their work experience placement.  Employers will then work with the training provider to plan and agree:

  • the length of the work experience placement
  • the days the trainee works
  • how the programme will be delivered

Traineeships are flexible.  Employers can change the programme as they go to make sure they and the trainee get the most out of it.

Employers must provide:

  • a safe, meaningful and high-quality work experience placement
  • a minimum of 70 hours of work experience placement over the duration of the traineeship (if the trainee claims benefits, the placement cannot last longer than 240 hours)
  • constructive feedback and advice to the trainee
  • an interview for an apprenticeship or job in their organisation at the end of the traineeship if one is available
  • an exit interview at the end of the traineeship with meaningful written feedback if no job is available

Offering a work experience placement gives employers the chance to:

  • get to know and work with a young person to see if they’re right for an apprenticeship or job in their business
  • design a programme that suits the needs of the trainee and their business
  • develop current employees’ experience in training and mentoring
  • recruit new talent for their business
  • claim an employer incentive of £1,000 when a work experience placement of over 70 hours has been completed

Employers who make new work experience placement opportunities available may be eligible for an incentive payment of £1,000 per trainee.  They can claim this incentive for up to 10 learners per region.  Employers decide how to use the money.  You can view more guidance on employer incentive payments and how to claim them.

Traineeships are funded by the government.  Traineeships are free to the employer, but they may choose to support trainees with expenses such as transport and meals.  If you are interested in offering a work experience placement for a traineeship:

  1. Contact the National Apprenticeship Service to register your interest and to ask for advice and support on traineeships.  They can help you set up a traineeship and advertise it on Find a traineeship.
  2. Partner with a training provider who will help you to design a traineeship that will meet your business needs.  They will also advertise the work experience placement for you.
  3. Agree with the trainee and your training provider exactly what each of you expects from the traineeship.

George Swann FIS Skills and Training Lead says “Traineeships are part of the Governments Plans for Jobs; in the current system approximately 60% to 70% of people on construction training courses delivered by FE do not enter the construction industry.  By providing more variety in the college element, introducing individuals to the wide range of careers available, Dry Lining Fixer Boarder and Finisher, Ceiling and Partitions Fixer, Plasterer solid and fibrous something should hook their interest and the work experience placement will put them in the work environment and show what the occupational specialism is about.  It’s worth employers giving this a try as addressing the labour shortages is all about home grow talent and if you find capable individuals, well enough said.  I encourage all employers and subject matter experts to get involved with the development work of CITB the more variety finishes, and interiors Traineeships have the greater the exposure of the fantastic opportunities this sector has to offer and more young people it should attract….Bigger net more fish”.

Skills Hub

The Skills Hub brings together details of courses specific to the finishes and interiors sector, making accessing and booking training quick and easy. In addition, it provides information on sector careers, apprenticeships and funding, as well as access to e-learning, CPD and other training.

Click Here
Register for TalentView Construction

Register for TalentView Construction

by | 18 Jan, 2022 | Skills

FIS members can now advertise all their opportunities for new entrants, including apprenticeships and work experience, for free on TalentView Construction, a new dedicated online platform for those looking to secure their first role in construction.  

TalentView sits alongside the Construction Talent Retention Scheme providing a ‘one stop shop’ for the recruitment and retention of skills across the industry.  After calling for an apprentice matching service for a number of years FIS is delighted to welcome the launch of TalentView which should make it much easier for young people to join the industry.

Members can register for TalentView now and upload all their ‘first job’ vacancies.  This service is free of charge.

Recognising the value of apprenticeships

Recognising the value of apprenticeships

by | 13 Jan, 2022 | Skills

National Apprenticeship Week 2022 takes place from 7-13 February. The week will bring together everyone passionate about apprenticeships to celebrate the value, benefit, and opportunity that apprenticeships bring.

The theme of National Apprenticeship Week 2022 is ‘Build the Future’, a continuation of the theme used in 2021 and allowing the week to link to the key pillars of the Build Back Better campaign.

Technical education has been transformed in recent years through programmes such as apprenticeships, Traineeships, T Levels, and KickStart. The week will encourage the country to consider and celebrate how technical education can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and employers to develop a workforce with future ready skills.

Across the week there will be engaging stories of apprentices’ progression – the increase in their confidence, skills, knowledge and how apprenticeships have kick-started incredible careers. It will also showcase the business benefits and return on investment of employing apprentices, how employers are using apprenticeships to fill skills gaps, upskill and revitalise their workforce ensuring they are future proof and future ready!

Let’s also use the week to recognise the resilience of employers, training providers, EPAOs (End Point Assessment Organisations) and apprentices during Covid. Visit https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/influencers/naw-2022 to find out more.

How to get involved

Employers: Encourage everyone to consider how training apprentices can build their business for years to come. Speak about the return on investment you are already seeing and how investing in your workforce helps you retain talent. Tell everyone of any successful levy transfers or examples of excellent brokerage by intermediaries. Host a Graduation or Apprenticeship Awards Ceremony. Showcase the diversity of career options and industries now available and what you can achieve through apprenticeships. You might also choose to showcase your wider recruitment offer, such as KickStart, Traineeships, or T Levels.

Individuals: Tell your story and discuss the impact of your apprenticeship training, progression opportunities and how you have achieved your career goals.

Training Providers: Highlight the great apprentices and employers you work with, and the opportunities available. You may wish to highlight individuals who have progressed from a Traineeship to an apprenticeship, or through the apprenticeship levels.

Applications open for £3,000 apprentice incentive payment

If you have or will be taking on an apprentice before 31 January 2022, then you might be eligible for a £3,000 incentive payment.
Find out more
Applications open for £3,000 apprentice incentive payment

Applications open for £3,000 apprentice incentive payment

by | 13 Jan, 2022 | Skills

Applications are now open for the £3,000 incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice.  Employers need to have recruited new apprentices before 31 January 2022.

How employers apply:

Employers should check their apprentices’ eligibility – they must have:

  • an employment start date from 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022
  • an apprenticeship start date from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022

To receive the payment, employers must submit an application for each eligible apprentice using their apprenticeship service account.

There is a step-by-step guide for more information.  When applying for the incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice, employers should make sure they have:

If the employers’ information is incorrect, this will delay their incentive payments.

If you have a query about the incentive payment, check the help articles in National Apprenticeship Services help portal.  If your query is about an application that has already been submitted, read the help article about how you can view your application and its status.

Skills Hub

The Skills Hub brings together details of courses specific to the finishes and interiors sector, making accessing and booking training quick and easy. In addition, it provides information on sector careers, apprenticeships and funding, as well as access to e-learning, CPD and other training.

Click Here

Pilot scheme to be launched for flexi-job apprenticeships

Pilot scheme to be launched for flexi-job apprenticeships

by | 13 Jan, 2022 | Skills

As announced by the Prime Minister in his 2020 Skills Speech, ESFA are launching a pilot scheme for flexi-job apprenticeships (previously known as portable apprenticeships) beginning in April 2022.  Flexi-job apprenticeship put apprentices in the driving seat and enable them to complete their apprenticeship across multiple short employment contracts.

Providers are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to engage in the pilot to test an exciting new model of apprenticeship delivery and support ongoing developments in the apprenticeship programme.

The Expression of Interest and further details about flexi-job apprenticeships can be found on Jaggear, the DfE’s eSourcing platform.  The closing date for Expressions of Interest is 28 January 2022.

Skills Hub

The Skills Hub brings together details of courses specific to the finishes and interiors sector, making accessing and booking training quick and easy. In addition, it provides information on sector careers, apprenticeships and funding, as well as access to e-learning, CPD and other training.

Click Here