Recruiters in England have the opportunity to provide young people with access to paid, one-year workplace apprenticeships via a new partnership between the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and the social enterprise Walwyn.
Under the agreement, whenever an REC Member is unable to place a 16-24 year old candidate into employment due to lack of experience or qualifications they can refer them to the Career Programme run by Walwyn, the social enterprise arm of workplace training provider the Ekode Group. The aim is to place young jobseekers with employers for a 12 month, 30 hours per week apprenticeship that will provide them with the experience and skills that will ultimately help them secure a permanent position. Through an intensive programme of individual development, pre-employment coaching and work-placed mentoring Walwyn’s Career Programme provides young adults with opportunities that may not have been available to them elsewhere. Apprenticeships through the scheme are currently available in business administration, retail, customer service and hospitality with plans to expand to other sectors.
For recruiters it is an opportunity to provide an additional service to candidates that they cannot place into employment, simply by signing them up to the scheme online. For each candidate referred and successfully placed into an apprenticeship the agency will receive a referral fee of £80.
REC Director of Member Services, Anita Holbrow, says:
“This partnership with Walwyn is another part of the REC’s commitment to tackle the serious problem of youth unemployment. Connecting our members with this hands-on training provider means that, along with our Youth Employment Charter, we can help recruiters get even more involved in supporting young people into work.”
Chief Executive of Walwyn, Bill Haynes says:
“We are delighted to announce a formal partnership with the REC. Our capabilities in apprenticeship funding and placement and our track record in improving employability and helping young jobseekers attain excellent vocational skills and qualifications will greatly assist REC members in creating a workforce for the future.”
Credit: onrec.com
