JTL takes the lead in traineeship initiative.
Training company JTL has taken a lead in progressing recruitment opportunities for the electro-technical, plumbing and heating sectors through Traineeships.
A traineeship is a relatively new approach by government to raise the employability skills of many young people leaving schools, or currently registered as not in employment, education or training (NEET). Young people aged 16-18 complete a 17 week programme that combines work preparation and associated training alongside six weeks of work experience with an employer.
With the help of sector employers in the Birmingham area, JTL began the first of its programmes at the company’s National Centre of Excellence in late March. Eight trainees were recruited and at the midpoint all remain on course to complete the study, which shows their readiness to be included on a full apprenticeship with its associated employment.
Leading the work at Birmingham is JTL’s Employability Trainer Natasha Picken who has tirelessly presented the advantages of the scheme to both young people and to local schools and colleges.
“Employers have been quick to see the benefits in participating, as this provides a good way of trialling the enthusiasm and commitment of a young person to do well in one of the trades, and at a subsequent time become a major asset to a business whilst completing an apprenticeship scheme,” said Natasha. “They can see this as an opportunity for young people to gain valuable work experience in their chosen trades whilst gaining life skills that will help them progress onto an apprenticeship. This in turn will benefit employers by creating more job-ready apprentices.”
The full programme includes:
• Work preparation – such as interview techniques, job search and interpersonal skills.
• Functional skills – work towards achieving acknowledged competence standards in English, Maths and IT, if needed.
• Six weeks work experience, either with one employer or a combination.
• Understanding building services engineering and the opportunities it presents
• Health & Safety knowledge, including working at height
• Basic electrical and mechanical principles
• Tool skills, both on site and within a workshop
Both the workshop provision and the well-equipped classrooms at JTL’s Birmingham Centre have been utilised as part of the training, effectively engaging talented young people in learning, as opposed to distancing themselves from self-improvement.
Participation in Traineeships is at no cost to employers, but the young people do need a level of supervision to ensure that their experience is engaging and provides the necessary experience that will improve their prospects of work – either within building services engineering or in an alternative career route.
JTL is pursuing the recruitment of further traineeship groups and a major open day at the Centre in Mill Street, Birmingham on Wednesday 9th July will feature traineeships, alongside apprenticeship and full time programmes of study, all of which providing late summer start dates.
“We would like to urge more employers to investigate becoming involved in traineeships,” said JTL Operations Director Caroline Turner. “We next look to expand the provision to the southern region involving college partners over the summer months. The work already completed in Birmingham shows the validity of the concept and the value it has in recruiting more good people into the industries of the sector.”
