26 January 2012, 12/12
Apprentice incentive is just the job
Local small businesses are
being asked to register their interest in a new scheme that could
provide a cash incentive to take on young apprentices.
As part of the West Lancashire Challenge
project, the Local Strategic Partnership with the support of West
Lancashire Borough Council, is offering local businesses the chance
to get a head start in accessing the Small Employers Incentive, a
scheme that will help shoulder some of the cost of taking on
apprentices.
From April 2012, an incentive of up to £1500
will be available for small employers (defined as those with up to
50 staff) that do not currently employ an apprentice to take on a
young apprentice aged between 16-24.
Apprenticeships are a chance for young people
to earn while they learn, gaining employment that will hopefully
lead onto a worthwhile career. For employers, apprenticeships allow
them to create a skilled and motivated workforce with the right
emphasis on on-the-job training.
Nationally the government aims for the small
employer incentive to subsidise apprenticeships for up to 40,000
young people. Small firms in all industries will be able to apply
and the incentive is for all apprenticeships at all levels.
Councillor Adrian Owens, Deputy Leader of the
Borough Council and Chairman of West Lancashire Local Strategic
Partnership, Employment, Learning and Skills Thematic Group, said:
“It really is a win win situation for all parties involved. Youth
unemployment is high and costs for business are on the up too. This
scheme helps shoulder some of the financial burden of taking on new
staff and allows these businesses to tap into the benefits of
apprentice schemes.
“Although the full details of eligibility
criteria and how the incentive scheme will operate are yet to be
announced, we want local businesses in West Lancashire to have a
head start on preparing for the introduction of this scheme and to
be among the first to benefit. “
Employers interested in taking on an
apprentice and/or who wish to be contacted with further information
on the Small Employer Incentive, should contact John Corish
of the West Lancashire Challenge on 01695 712645 or email john.corish@westlancs.gov.uk
Alternatively, find out more by coming along
to the West Lancashire Apprenticeship Information and Recruitment
Fair, being held at West Lancashire College’s main Skelmersdale
campus on Tuesday 7 February between 4.30pm and 7.00pm.
Further information
The West Lancashire Challenge project is
funded by the West Lancashire Local Strategic Partnership and is
being delivered in partnership by West Lancashire Council for
Voluntary Service, West Lancashire College and West Lancashire
Borough Council.
For more information on the West Lancashire
Local Strategic Partnership please visit: westlancslsp.org (external
link)
The project is also working closely with the
government’s national apprenticeship
scheme(external link)
The Small Employers Incentive is a component
of the Government’s Youth Contract – a scheme of training and
employment support for young people.
In England alone, 30,000 businesses already
offer apprenticeships harnessing fresh new talent. According to NAS
( National Apprentice Service), UK businesses consider skills
shortages and recruitment difficulties a bigger threat to
performance than soaring oil prices and declining consumer
spending, and more than a quarter of these rate this form of
vocational training higher that any other qualification.
Related information