Take the
LEAP
“The country is facing some of the most difficult economic conditions of recent times. The district council has not been immune to these difficulties, with a higher proportion of local people on key out-of-work benefits than across the wider South East region. Alongside this, a major reform of the welfare system is underway.” Set against this backdrop, LEAP was conceived to promote employment and skills development opportunities to provide support and advice to local people and to enable economic growth locally. Peter added: “LEAP is an initial two-year pilot programme, which was successfully launched in February this year at an event well-attended by local business representatives.” The programme is promoting apprenticeships and their benefits to local young people and seeking to engage with local businesses to encourage a greater number of opportunities for apprentices locally. Aspiring apprentices can apply to undertake a short, intensive programme of training to ensure they are ‘business ready’ for employment. Peter added: “LEAP is seeking to engage with employers to take on new apprentices to help grow their businesses, with our partner training
into apprenticeships
Apprenticeships in Britain go back as far as the Middle Ages – and it seems they are now more popular than ever thanks to initiatives such as the one set up by Lewes District Council.
The district council, recognising the importance of apprenticeships has been leading an initiative to get people back to work, and launched the Local Enterprise and Apprenticeship Platform (LEAP) earlier this year at Plumpton College. LEAP has been developed in partnership with several local organisations and included staff from Plumpton and Sussex Downs Colleges putting their heads together to establish a new preapprenticeship programme w hich will lead to a new Business Ready Award. The four-week intense programme has been described as a boot-camp that gets potential apprentices ready for the workplace which will in turn aim to help encourage more employers to take on apprentices. Peter Sharp, from the district council, said: “LEAP aims to unlock the potential of our residents, workforce and institutions.
organisations including the colleges, with local companies to identify their requirements and ensure local young people achieve nationally recognised qualifications.” Recruitment specialist Gary Peters, who is chief executive of ICP Recruitment and founder of BrightonandHoveJobs. com and GatwickDiamondJobs.com said apprenticeships are invaluable.
you can’t just take advantage of people because they’re cost effective.
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