BARNARDO’S – Provider overview

At Barnardo’s we have been running successful apprenticeships, for apprentices aged 16+, for over 21 years. During this time, we have provided apprenticeships to more than 1500 young people. Our current delivery extends to Beauty Therapy; Retail; Customer Service; Construction; Warehousing; and Business Administration. We provide apprenticeships in the Northeast.

A well-trained and committed apprentice can help drive your business forward. Talk to us about how we can help you as we work to enhance future prospects and job opportunities for young people.

Why do an apprenticeship?

• You will earn a real wage
• You will have the skills that employers want
• You will set yourself up for the future – apprentices enjoy strong salary increases when they complete their training, and those completing a higher apprenticeship could see increased earnings of an estimated £150,000 over their lifetime!

How apprenticeships work

 Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study.

As an apprentice you will:

• be an employee earning a wage and getting holiday pay
• work alongside experienced staff
• gain job-specific skills
• get time for training and study related to your role (at least 20% of your normal working hours)

Apprenticeships take 1 to 5 years to complete depending on their level.

Levels of apprenticeship

Apprenticeships have equivalent educational levels.

                              Level             Equivalent Education Level

Intermediate        2                      GCSE

Advanced             3                      A Level

Higher                  4/5/6/7           Foundation degree and above

Degree                  6/7                  Bachelor’s or master’s degree

Some apprenticeships may also give you an additional qualification, such as a diploma.

Who can start an apprenticeship?

To start an apprenticeship, you’ll need to be:

• 16 or over, please see apply for an apprenticeship
• living in England
• not in full-time education

The aim of Apprenticeships is to develop knowledge and understanding within the sector industry and the apprenticeship standards are competence based.

This means the standard is linked to your job role and your ability to perform a range of tasks connected to your everyday work.

You will be supported throughout your programme by our qualified staff with additional support from other staff, where necessary. Most of your programme will be conducted in the workplace with 20% of your normal working hrs allocated for training and study related to your role. These times will be agreed between yourself, your Barnardo’s Assessor and your employer. Reviews of your progress towards the achievement of your apprenticeship will take place as agreed with your Assessor.

Functional Skills

Your Apprenticeship will include English and maths and in some cases ICT, if you haven’t already achieved them.

You will be offered the opportunity to study and achieve these qualifications up to a Level 2.

Your Assessor will support you to achieve these qualifications and identify and how you can further develop these skills in your everyday job role. Additional support for achievement of these qualifications will be available if required.

Other Qualifications

Some Apprenticeships may require additional qualifications/training. These will be explained by your Assessor if necessary.

Who will I be working with?

You will be allocated an Assessor at the beginning of your programme. Internal Quality Assurance staff will also be allocated. The Quality Assurance Staff ensure that your apprenticeship is on track and meets the qualification requirements. Throughout your qualification your work will be sampled by these members of staff to ensure that you are achieving all elements of your Apprenticeship and you are on target to achieve.

Attendance

Most Apprenticeships are based on full time working hours and your training (20% off-the-job) and assessment will form part of these hours. Your days and hours of work will be agreed with your employer as part of your contract of employment before your Apprenticeship starts.

If you are unable to attend work, you must follow your employer’s procedures for reporting your absence. If your absence is on a day when you are scheduled to see your Assessor, then you must also notify your Assessor.

Health & Safety, Domestics & Fire Regulations

Whilst at employers’ premises, Apprentices are covered by the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act. Employers should be aware of the possibility that some Apprentices may not have the same degree of awareness of risks as experienced employees. Appropriate steps must therefore be taken to ensure that the Apprentice’s health and safety is protected. Employers are required to comply with all relevant health, safety and welfare legislation. Additionally, appropriate Health and Safety registration and documentation is required.

• As an Apprentice you have a legal duty to:
• Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do.
• Co-operate with your employer on health and safety.
• Correctly use work items provided by your employer, including personal protective equipment, in accordance with training or instructions.
• Not interfere with or misuse anything provided for your health, safety or welfare.
• We will conduct a Health and Safety visit and assessment with your employer before you start your apprenticeship programme. Health and Safety will be continuously reviewed with both you and your employer during the visits from your Assessor.

Additional information is available from: www.hse.gov.uk

Contract of Employment

It is a legal requirement that all Apprentices have a contract of employment.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) offer free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights and issues.

Holidays

As an employee you are entitled to holidays from the first day of your employment. The minimum statutory entitlement is 28 days annually including bank holidays. Your holiday entitlement should be detailed in your contract of employment. You need to follow your company procedures for requesting/booking holidays and inform your Assessor of any holidays you have planned.

Workplace Induction

All employers should provide their Apprentices with information regarding the company’s policies on Health and Safety, Welfare, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Terms and conditions of employment and how their training will be delivered. Induction in the workplace should take place within the first week of employment.

Please see GOV.UK guide ‘Become an Apprentice’: https://www.gov.uk/become-apprentice

 Apprenticeship Quality

See Quality Statement and Strategy from the Institute of Apprenticeships which explains what a quality Apprenticeship looks like.

Contact our Employer Engagement Officer Nicola Brumpton-Taylor on

Tel: 0191 2963367

Email: Email Us! 

n.brumptontaylor@barnardos.org.uk