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Few people will have failed to notice the challenges
our economy is facing as it continues to feel the effects
of the global financial downturn - our money simply doesn't
seem to go as far as it did a matter of months ago. This pinch
is also being felt by our businesses, especially in sectors
such as construction, which has lead to numerous redundancies
impacting particularly on apprentices.
My Department's ApprenticeshipsNI professional and technical
training provision is open to all people who have attained
the school leaving age of 16 years and are either about to
be employed or are an existing employee. There are some 110
occupational frameworks approved by the Department to receive
its funding support. These are delivered through 54 contracted
training providers at about 70 sites across Northern Ireland.
Currently there are well over 7,000 apprentices in training
and about a third of these are employed in the construction
industry and a further third in the wide range of engineering
trades.
Your options
So what are the options if you are one of these apprentices
who has been affected by this economic downturn? Your training
will be suspended but could be resumed when a new employer
is found in the same occupational area. Because qualifications
and standards change, the length of this suspension may vary.
A second option is to change your career totally, either employment
and an apprenticeship in a new area or perhaps return to full
time education. To help you make such a potentially life changing
decision, my Department's Careers Service will provide you
with impartial advice about the choices open to you. The location
of the nearest office to you can be found on the Careers Service
web site www.careersserviceni.com
Training
If you want to continue with your training then you could
explore training options such as a Pre-Apprenticeship under
the Department's Training for Success provision or some of
the similar courses on offer with some of the six regional
Further Education colleges.
Training for Success offers unemployed 16 to 18 year olds
Level 2 training in a wide range of occupational areas. The
age limits can be extended for young people with a disability
or who have been in care.
This training will involve some work experience but will
only enable you to complete a technical qualification equivalent
to that normally studied as a Level 2 Apprentice. During training
participants are eligible for an EMA payment of £40
per week and can claim a contribution to their travel expenses.
For further information check out www.trainingforsuccess.info
(There is not a Level 3 Pre-Apprenticeship, but my Department
is currently exploring temporary interventions that may be
implemented during the present economic downturn.)
Further Education
The Further Education training options would be on a fee paying
basis but concessionary fees are available to those who for
example, are in receipt of Income Support, income-based Jobseekers
Allowance or those holding income-based NHS Exemption Certificates.
Additionally my Department may offer assistance from its
Further Education Awards Arrangements which are administered
through the Western Education and Library Board, (028) 8225
4546. These awards provide funding of up to £848 against
tuition costs and up to £2,000 in relation to living
expenses. Applicants may be considered for a Further Education
Award if they are following a professional and technical Further
Education course and if they have reached the age of 19 on
1 July 2008.
New Employment
Should you decide to actively seek a new employer then help
is also available through my Department's JobCentres and Jobs
and Benefits offices, the location of each can be found on
our web site www.delni.gov.uk .This site will also give you
access to JobCentreOnline which is a web based facility that
allows you to search for jobs independently. Other employment
schemes are also available, including assistance if you are
disabled, and information on these can be found on the web
site. While all efforts are made to keep the information on
the site as up-to-date as possible it is also advisable to
make an appointment and speak directly to a Jobs Adviser.
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