THE CHALLENGE
Three years ago, Connexions South Central staff were looking for ways of improving young people's awareness of Apprenticeship opportunities.
"There were far more promotional materials available on further education," recalls the organisation's development manager, Dave Goodrich. "We wanted to create something that gave Apprenticeships some parity of esteem for young people leaving education."
THE SOLUTION
The answer lay in developing a web database offering a centre on which training providers could advertise opportunities in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, and for young people to apply for them directly.
The organisation secured two grants from the European Social Fund in October 2005 - 350,000 for an online "central vacancy unit" and 200,000 for a system of support for school-leavers.
Connexions then commissioned consultancy Aspire Learning to help manage the project and technology company S-cool to help build the web site. In order to fill the database with opportunities, it was essential to develop a closer working relationship with training providers, so the organisation held training sessions in using the system for them.
Guided by a multi-agency steering group, the organisation developed a system that enables its Apprenticeship team to monitor whether young peo- ple's applications have received responses and give providers a nudge where appropriate.
Goodrich says the site also serves as a tool to link uncertain young people with personal advisers. And if a young person has applied for three placements and has been unsuccessful, the system alerts Connexions to provide support.
THE OUTCOME
Apprenticeships Online began last September, enabling young people to create their own online account, view opportunities, apply online and track the progress of their application.
Since its launch, 5,000 young people have registered on the site, making 3,000 applications. About 45 training providers are currently involved.
Goodrich says: "We are confident there will be more young people getting Apprenticeships than would have been the case in the past."
WHAT'S YOUR CHALLENGE? Contact Emily Rogers on 020 8267 4721 or emily-jane.rogers@haymarket.com. TOP TIPS
- Get all the key people together to help develop the resource
- Sell the benefits to training providers: one of the most attractive aspects of this system is being able to link directly with young people
- It's important that personal advisers and young people who need hard copy information can print it out in a usable format
- Make sure that training providers' vacancies are written in a young people-friendly style
- Thanks to Dave Goodrich, development manager, Connexions South Central.
