New online employer toolkit to increase access to Apprenticeships
2 Jun 2014 11:47 AM
NIACE has recently launched an online
employer toolkit designed to help more disabled people gain access to an
Apprenticeship.
The National
Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) has recently launched
an online employer toolkit designed to help more disabled people gain access to
an Apprenticeship, and also help employers gain access to skilled and dedicated
workers.
The development of the toolkit was undertaken
through consultation with a number of employers including Barclays Bank,
Tottenham Hotspur FC, The National Theatre, Novartis PLC, Leicester City
Council and Luton and Dunstable Hospital. Each of the employers has hired
disabled apprentices and they were keen to underline the key contribution they
have had at their workplaces.
Commissioned by the Agency, the toolkit
demonstrates the simple and cost-effective actions that employers can take,
including around recruitment and ongoing support, to make their Apprenticeship
programmes open to disabled apprentices.
There are over 11 million disabled people in
the UK, of whom nearly six million are of working age. By hiring and supporting
disabled people on their Apprenticeship schemes, employers have found that they
are better able to extend the pool of high-quality applicants available to
them. Research has showed that the average Apprenticeship in the UK can
increase business productivity by £214 each week through increased
profits, lower prices and better products, demonstrating that hiring
apprentices makes good business sense.
Sue Husband, Director of Apprenticeships and
Delivery Services said: “One of my first priorities in my new role is to
encourage engagement with employers and employer groups to increase
participation in Apprenticeships and Traineeships.
“Disabled apprentices are very much part
of the equation, and the Agency commissioned this piece of work because of the
value we knew it would offer to employers. We are very pleased with the
development of the toolkit, which demonstrates the simple and cost-effective
actions that employers can take, both in recruitment and ongoing support, to
enable them to open up their Apprenticeship programmes to disabled participants
with more confidence.”
Further information on the Employer Toolkit is
available athttp://www.employer-toolkit.org.uk/.
NIACE is an independent charity which promotes
adult learning across England and Wales. Through its research, development,
publications, events, outreach and advocacy activity, NIACE works to improve
the quality and breadth of opportunities available for all adults so they can
benefit from learning throughout their lives.