TrAC (Training and Apprenticeships in Construction) and EN:Able Futures CIC are delighted to announce they have been successful in securing £300k of the almost £5m total funding the government is investing in flexi-job apprenticeship agencies appointed to their new register. The funding will be used to develop a new Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agency (FJAA) supporting the expansion of TrAC and EN:Able Futures’ current operations into wider geographies, covering the entire eastern side of England, from the Northumberland border with Scotland down to the East Sussex coast, excluding London. The new FJAA will also expand the delivery of standards across the wider Built Environment, including allied trades and professions.
TrAC, a not-for-profit Flexi-job Apprenticeship Service, will expand its operations from the East and parts of the South East of England to cover the South East Midlands.
EN:Able Futures CIC, the employment and training delivery arm of regional social housing consortium Efficiency North, will expand its operations in Yorkshire & Humber to cover the North East and the north East Midlands areas, where they already have exciting prospects underway to scale up their operations.
TrAC and EN:Able Futures CIC were well able to demonstrate their understanding of the skills needs of the construction sector with their outstanding track records. Both not-for-profit businesses have successfully provided award-winning shared apprenticeship services with grant support from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). Since 2012 they have, collectively, provided 652 shared apprenticeships to 295 host companies working with 78 learning providers.
TrAC’s well-established, bespoke digital platform will support the expansion of apprentice recruitment and progress tracking. TrAC and EN:Able Futures’ teams of Apprenticeship Managers will continue to provide high levels of pastoral and vocational support to ensure that apprentices complete their qualifications successfully and progress into long term careers.
The flexi-job apprenticeship register, announced in August 2021 by the ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency), is designed to create benefits for employers in industries such as construction, where it is often difficult for companies to employ apprentices for a full Apprenticeship duration, due to the nature of construction projects. As the UK economy builds back following the Covid-19 pandemic, the flexible, high-quality flexi-job apprenticeship model will support businesses in providing hope and opportunities for young people. The BBC, the NHS and McGinley Ltd are also amongst the 15 total organisations approved to deliver Flexi-job Apprenticeship Agencies.
Secretary of State for Education Nadhim Zahawi said: “Gone are the days when apprenticeships are restricted by a one-size fits all approach.
“Through our dynamic post-16 reforms, we are investing directly in people, delivering prestigious and flexible apprenticeships which suits learners’ needs.
“New flexi-job apprenticeships will not only help to deliver the skilled workforce needed to support a diverse range of sectors to grow, but it will create even more exciting opportunities for people to secure a great career.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: “Apprenticeships are a cornerstone of our Plan for Jobs, providing people with an excellent route into some of the best careers and contributing to a high-skill, high-productivity economy.
I'm thrilled to see such exciting new opportunities being created in a wide range of industries thanks to our flexi-job apprenticeships - supporting more people to find the apprenticeship that is right for them.”
Sally Moore, TrAC Director, commented: “We are delighted that TrAC has been successful, in partnership with EN:Able Futures, in securing funding via the Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Fund. The funding will enable us to expand our collective award-winning flexi-job apprenticeship services across the entire East Coast of England where there is untapped demand amongst both construction contractors and young people wishing the enter the industry and currently no such provision aimed at the construction sector.”
Lee Parkinson, Chief Executive of Efficiency North, commented: “EN:Able Futures CIC has a heritage of working in partnership and’ its new relationship with TrAC to deliver the east coast FJAA continues in this rich tradition. EN:Able Futures is already making great progress in developing opportunities in our expanded geographies, including some of the Government’s key “levelling up” projects, and we will be soon adding to our existing dedicated team with resources to concentrate on the development of our offer. We very much look forward to bringing our high quality flexi-job apprenticeship offer to the North East and East Midlands.”
Further information on the flexi-job apprenticeship register: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flexi-job-apprenticeship-offer