Training and Apprenticeships

Funded by the Department of Economy in partnership with European Social Fund

Be Skilled – Be Qualified – Be Paid

Getting paid while you train and learn – an attractive proposition…Found an employer who will offer you employment as an apprentice? You can earn while you study/train.

Apprenticeships are available on a full-framework basis to both existing and newly recruited employees. You can enter ApprenticeshipsNI funded apprenticeships on progression from Training for Success or as a direct entrant.

ApprenticeshipsNI offers a diverse range of training and the opportunity to gain nationally-recognised qualifications giving you the skills you need for your chosen career. As an apprentice, you will be with an employer and in paid employment from day one. How much you are paid will be agreed with your employer and will meet national minimum wage requirements.

Once you sign up to ApprenticeshipsNI you will begin to get the training and qualifications necessary for your career and what employers want.  Don’t worry about the cost, ApprenticeshipsNI will ensure the full cost of your directed training is met. Once you complete you will have formal qualifications that are recognised by employers worldwide.

ApprenticeshipNI ensures that you:

• get first-rate training
• build knowledge and skills
• gain qualifications
• earn a wage from day one

Apprenticeships NI Course Options

You can access these courses at one of the following College campuses; Derry-Londonderry, Limavady, or Strabane. Entry for these courses at apprenticeship level is subject to results of initial assessment and interview. Entry requirements for these courses are currently under review.

For more information on Apprenticeships, contact 028 7127 6449.

Training for Success (TfS)

Training for Success is designed for young people aged 16 – 17, with extended age eligibility for young people with a disability up to age 22 and up to age 24 for those from an in-care background.

What will I learn with TfS?

The programme is aimed to provide training for up to 104 weeks (156 weeks for those with a disability) to help you gain the recognised skills and qualifications to help you progress in your chosen career.

Training for Success is delivered across three strands at NWRC:

• Skills for your life
• Skills for Work Level 1
• Skills for Work Level 2

Skills for your life will help you address personal and development needs and gain skills and qualifications you need to get a job or progress to higher-level education or training.

Skills for Work Level 1 and 2 will help you gain skills and vocationally related, professional and technical qualifications. They enable you to gain employment or progress to the next level of training provision, to further education or an apprenticeship.

What will I achieve with TfS?

You will be required to achieve a targeted qualification in each of the four areas outlined below:

• personal and social development
• employability skills
• professional and technical skills
• essential skills in communication, application of number and ICT

You will discuss and agree on a Personal Training Plan (PTP) with NWRC detailing the targeted outcomes, progression routes and associated milestones.

You will also receive job experience and job sampling based on your needs and the opportunity to experience different workplaces and decide what sort of work suits you best.

Financial Entitlements

If you enter training through the Training for Success programme, you will automatically qualify for a non-means tested Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) of £40 per week. If your parent(s)/guardian(s) receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)/Income Support, means-tested Job Seeker’s Allowance or Housing Benefit, that benefit will not be affected by the EMA.

If you are entitled to one of these benefits in your own right, then that benefit will not be affected either. Your parent(s)/guardian(s) will also be entitled to receive Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit provided all other conditions for receipt of the benefits are met.

In addition, you will receive participant bonuses at various stages of your training.

Travel, lodging and childcare allowances may be paid depending on individual circumstances.

Disability Support

Disability Support Contractors (DSCs) offer additional support to people with a disability. NWRC will organise this, together with the DSC, to make sure suitable arrangements are in place that will allow participants who require additional help and support, to benefit fully from their training

Useful links for further information

• NI Direct – Training for Success Programme
• Training for Success Participant Handbook

How do I apply?

You can apply for the Training for Success course on our website. Apply here –  www.nwrc.ac.uk/apply

This incentive is available to all employers to support the recruitment of new apprentices. Employers will be eligible for up to £3,000 for each new apprenticeship opportunity created from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. This bonus will apply to all new apprenticeship opportunities and includes apprentices who have been made redundant:

• Payment 1 – £2,000 after 90 days retention following start* of new apprenticeship
• Payment 2 – £1,000 after 200 days retention following start* of a new paid apprenticeship

The application process has now opened. The application form can be downloaded here: https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/downloads/new-apprenticeship-incentive-scheme-claim-form.pdf

Further information: Recruitment of New Apprenticeships

To help return apprentices from furlough, and retain them until 31st March 2021 and on to successful completion of their apprenticeship, DfE will provide incentive payments to employers to support the return, retention and result for apprentices.

The total amount payable under the scheme will be a maximum of £3,700 per apprentice, distribution as follows:

• Return – £500 per returned furloughed apprentice payable for the first full month of paid apprenticeship from 1 November 2020
• Retain – maximum of £2,000 available: £500 per month for up to 4 months of paid apprenticeship between 1 December 2020 and 31 March 2021
• Result – £1,200 for successful full framework achievement of a returned furloughed apprentice

The application process will open on the 1st December 2020 as this is the earliest date a claim can be made. Find out more about the Apprenticeship Return, Retain and Result Scheme.

Apprenticeships are beneficial to young people, employers and the wider economy, however, there are barriers that can stop the expansion of opportunities and participation which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

An Apprenticeship Challenge Fund aims to promote greater collaboration between employers and suppliers, whilst maintaining the employers’ role at the centre of the apprenticeship system and creating room for DfE to take a more creative and innovative approach to solving problems, such as:

• shared Apprenticeship Models
• Apprenticeship Brokerage Service
• Employer Apprenticeship Mentoring Programmes to give managers the skills they need to effectively manage apprentices/apprenticeship programmes gaining maximum benefit for the employer
• Apprentice Mentoring Programme to help new apprentices integrate into businesses
• the removal of monetary and non-monetary barriers to recruitment; Identify monetary/non-monetary barriers

Successful applicants will receive one-off awards of up to £50,000, although there is an option to increase for proposals with multiple partners or features.  The Challenge Fund is now open for applications until 4pm on Friday 23 October 2020 – find out more about the fund.