1. NLAO – Active Inclusion of Young People 15 November 2010 Birmingham Apprenticeship Scheme (BAS) Graham Edwards, WNF Strategy & Implementation Manager Janet Chisholm, BAS Project Manager

2. The project addresses Birmingham’s strategic priority: “Preventing young people becoming the long term unemployed of the future”

3. Birmingham Background : Young people 16 - 18 Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs): 2005 – 14.3% 2009 – 7.7% However, in areas of deprivation currently ranges from 13.5% - 25% Not available for the labour market – 14.7% 18 -24’s unemployed – 13,380 – 21.6% of the working age population

4. 3 Main NEET Categories  Open to learning, positive experience of school, optimistic about the future (41%)  Undecided about education and training, no significant barriers, dissatisfied with opportunities available to them (22%)  Sustained for 6 months+, negative experience at school, left with few or no qualifications, likely to have unemployed family members, barriers to entering learning (38%)

5. Being NEET is Costly : Long term effects of being NEET on young men: 4 x more likely to be out of work (cost of benefits and loss of tax revenue) 5 x more likely to have a criminal record (cost to the criminal justice system) 6 x less likely to have qualifications (lower potential earnings and loss of tax revenue) 3x more likely to have depression (cost to the National Health Service)

6. Important to note: 75% of young people nationally never experience not being in employment, education or training

7. BAS Project Summary Aims: To increase both the range of sectors and the range of employers, primarily SME’s, engaging with apprenticeships To increase Birmingham’s competitiveness and productivity through up skilling 150 Apprenticeships for young people from deprived areas 16 – 24 year old target group

8. Achievements to date: 119 - Obtaining a job and starting an apprenticeship 93% – retention rate (8 left before their mentor was in place) 9 due to start during November 100 Workplace job mentor/coaches in training 80 employers engaged

9. Apprenticeships being delivered: Engineering Production Hospitality and Catering Customer Services Advice and Guidance Teaching Assistant Information Technology Health and Social Care Sport and Leisure Accounting Sports Coaching Plumbing Construction Business Administration Butchery Childcare

10. The Project requires that : Employers sign a contract with BCC to employ the apprentice for 2 years The employer defines an appropriate staff member as job mentor/coach to participate in a programme over a 6 month period The mentoring is focused on the Employability Essentials to provide the apprentice with a good start in their working life The apprentice participates in a full apprenticeship to receive a nationally recognised qualification

11. Employability Essentials – are caught not taught Motivation Self reliance Self- confidence Positive mental attitude

12. In return the project provides: Wage subsidy up to 1 year at minimum wage for 30 – 40 hours per week Apprentices with some specialist equipment they require to do their job Mentoring and Coaching training for the in-company employee to support the apprentice Enhanced employability essentials for the young person

13. Mentoring and Coaching Programme Aligned to National Occupational Standards Workshops – 1 full day + 4 x ½ days over 6 months –Practical –Workbased –Set in context –Experiential –Supported with a toolkit and logbooks

14. Essential Skills for Coach/Mentors Rapport and trust Asking insightful questions Providing feedback encourage action Active listening

15. The job mentor/coach must have:  the ability to act as a positive role model, demonstrating the Employability Essentials in the workplace  the ability to promote discovery for the apprentice

16. Thank you Q&A