Barclays and O2 have welcomed government proposals to launch a new trainee scheme, aimed at preparing young people for employment.
Skills Minister Matthew Hancock will unveil plans today (10 January 2013) for a traineeship programme for 16- to 24-year-olds who are not yet ready for an apprenticeship or job.
Funded by the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the programme will teach English and maths, as well as offering lessons in interview preparation and CV-writing. Trainees will also be given work placements.
The traineeships, which are expected to last around six months, could be in place by September.
Ahead of the announcement, the government published a discussion document, which asks 12 questions on what a proposed traineeships programme should offer.
Banking giant Barclays welcomed the news of the traineeships. It introduced its own apprenticeship scheme, Barclays Apprenticeships, in April 2012. The vast majority (80%) of those accepted onto the one year programme were not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Mike Thompson, Head of Learning and Development for Barclays UK Retail and Business Banking, says: “As a large employer actively working with young people who are NEET, Barclays welcomes this new drive to help prepare our young people for an apprenticeship, and get them into work.
“Our apprenticeship programme already offers vital pre-training to young people particularly if they have no prior work experience or qualifications to help prepare them for an apprenticeship. Often this can involve really simple things like preparing for a job interview which can make a big difference to young people’s employment prospects.
“We now have hundreds of young apprentices working in Barclays who are a real credit to our business. We are keen to share our experience and will engage closely with the Government and the National Apprenticeship Service as this discussion moves forward.”
Ann Pickering, HR Director at O2, adds: “Today’s announcement is another positive step towards helping young people unlock their true potential and take their first steps into the world of work.”
However, she says: “Whilst government initiatives like this are vital for young people, all businesses have a role to play in giving them the opportunities they need to prepare them on the road to employment. Whether that’s offering training, work experience or even mentoring – every opportunity counts.”
Source: 10 January 2013, AskGrapevine HR
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