Employer Forum

FAIR TRAIN EMPLOYERS’ FORUM

Background Information:

The voluntary sector represents a significant part of the UK economy with an annual income of £35.5bn, a total of 793,000 paid employees and over 20 million volunteers. Evidence suggests that although people who work and volunteer in the sector are generally well-qualified, they can lack basic or specialist skills and workplace experience. In addition, the sector is faced with the workforce challenge of managing an increasingly aging population.

Apprenticeships offer the voluntary sector a great opportunity to address these shortcomings and, crucially, there is funding available to do so. Voluntary sector organisations can develop the skills and experience of employees through using either pre existing apprenticeship frameworks or through the new Voluntary Sector Apprenticeship Frameworks that are currently being created.

A report by the Learning and Skills Council (Identifying sectors with prospects for expanding the number of apprenticeships) published in 2009 looked at the sectors of the economy most likely to deliver an expansion in apprenticeships and identified the areas of health, social care, education, and criminal justice. These areas constitute a significant proportion of the voluntary sector’s work.

For an apprentice, the advantages of undertaking an apprenticeship are numerous, including increased employee retention, improved job prospects, greater job satisfaction, and enhanced earning potential.

In order to boost the take up of apprenticeships by the Third Sector, Fair Train and Skills – Third Sector has set up an Employer Forum specifically for employers in the Third Sector to include charities, social enterprises, community and voluntary organisations.

Purpose of the Employer Forum:

1. Increase the involvement and capacity of Third Sector employers to take on apprenticeships and to develop apprenticeships schemes in house
2. Raise the profile of Third Sector employers already involved with apprenticeship programmes and add value to their offer
3. Address workforce planning issues facing the sector such as skills shortages and an aging population
4. Contribute to providing young people with valuable and cutting edge apprenticeships across a range of interesting areas of work

The Benefits:

• Be part of a Third Sector network for apprenticeships and lobby for issues specific to the sector
• Build your knowledge and expertise in apprenticeships and access practical support to develop and deliver apprenticeship programmes
• Benefit from improved communication between government agencies to include the National Apprenticeship Service(NAS); providers and employers thus oiling the wheels of apprenticeship delivery
• Gain access to mentors across the sector to help you develop your own apprentice programmes
• Be part of the development of tailored apprenticeship frameworks for the Third Sector
• Support and promote the Third Sector as an attractive career opportunity for young people
• Access a community of Third Sector employers with shared values
• Stay informed and up to speed with apprenticeship developments across the UK

If you wish to receive invitations to Employer Forum events please go to the Join Fair Train or Click Here to join Fair Train now!

There is no charge to join Fair Train.