SkillsZone

Training opportunities for people in the Borough

SkillsZone is a partnership of organisations, including housing associations, Jobcentre Plus, colleges and voluntary organisations which can work together to support unemployed residents with training, work placements and employment. It also promotes initiatives to improve your work prospects and upskill.

Therefore EBC does not provide all of the incentives but can advise and sign post you to the relevant organization.

SkillsZone is a dedicated area to help people in the Borough to find available training opportunities and courses.

Apprenticeships

Employers can benefit from having an apprentice, here are some of the incentives:

£2,000 per apprentice (under the age of 25)
£1,000 age incentive still applies for 16-18-year-olds
£1,500 per apprentice aged 25 or over
Payment schedule 50% at month 3 and 50% after 12 months
Must be a new apprentice for all incentives – not current staff – employer to sign a declaration stating this
Runs from 1 August through 31 January 2021

Find out how to apply here.

Transfer to Transform

Solent Apprenticeship Hub

For SMEs (under 50 employees)
Can apply for funding to cover 'employer contribution' and wider apprenticeship funding
Levy payers can donate funding for other organisations to utilise

You can find courses here.

Traineeship Incentive

Employers will be offered the following for taking on a trainee:

£1, 00 to take on a trainee
Quality work placements for 16 to 24-year olds
Expansion of this to include levels up to Level 3

Traineeship programme

A traineeship programme is a pre-apprenticeship programme and requires the following:

A minimum of 70 hours (unpaid although the employer can cover expenses)
Work experience (no more than 240 hours if a benefit claimant)
Work preparation training – decided with employer and trainee
Sector-focused technical or professional qualification to help prepare for occupational standards within apprenticeships
Bursary funds for 16-19 and 19+ learner

Kickstart Scheme

The Kickstart Scheme is aimed at 16-24-year olds claiming Universal Credit and considered to be at risk of long-term unemployment by their DWP adviser and includes the following:

100% of wage for a minimum of 25 hours per week at minimum wage paid by government (employer can increase hourly rate but only the minimum wage will be covered)
Must be a new job, and the employer will have to demonstrate this is a new post – not filling an existing role at the government’s expense
Employers must provide training and support to help Kickstarters find a permanent job
Cost to cover overheads will also be covered (details still to follow)
Grant for a 24-year old will be approximately £6,500

PONToon Courses

Find out what courses are available through the PONToon Project.

Workshops from National Careers Service

Free workshops are available through November and December with the National Careers Service.

Offers from Eastleigh College

Digital learning is just one of the areas the college committed to in their ‘Bounce Back Pledge’ launched earlier this year in a bid to help people and businesses get back on their feet post-Covid.

Free online Level 2 Courses: Level 2 courses are available free of charge to the vast majority of adults. They were extremely popular during the previous lockdown as people sought to gain additional knowledge and qualifications and a record number of applications are still being received.

The most popular are mental health awareness courses and exercise, health and nutrition awareness courses, while others included Customer Service and Organisational Management.

University access courses: Learners who might not have the formal qualifications needed to study at university have the option of six tailored access courses providing a stepping stone to study at degree level to enter a new career in an array of industry areas including teaching, nursing, dietetics, medicine, social work and more.

Professional higher education courses: Eastleigh College also provides full and part time Level 4 and Level 5 foundation courses and apprenticeships in a broad range of sectors including: accountancy, counselling, creative media and video games development, computing, construction and built environment, education, engineering, healthcare and human resources.

Keep Updated

To keep up to date with the latest news and courses from Skills Zone you can sign up to receive our weekly newsletter.

Contact

For more information contact Sue Edgerley