Tees Valley Combined Authority will work with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), area employers and training providers to test the new Apprenticeship Brokerage scheme.
The scheme has been designed to help employers create apprenticeship opportunities and navigate the system, while connecting young people, aged 16 to 24, with vacancies, particularly those not in education, employment or training.
The £9.4million programme will include help for young people who narrowly miss out on an apprenticeship to find another suitable opportunity with a local employer.
A new system will be established, similar to university clearing, which will redirect strong “near miss” candidates to other vacancies rather than allowing their talent to go to waste.
The pilot aims to support 1,500 additional apprenticeship starts across Tees Valley and forms part of wider government plans to create 50,000 more apprenticeships for young people and give apprenticeships a stronger role alongside university as a route into a good career.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Being chosen as one of the first places in the country to deliver this new scheme is a huge vote of confidence in Hartlepool, Teesside and Darlington. We’ve got brilliant young people and brilliant employers here. But we know how tough it can be when someone comes close to getting an apprenticeship only to miss out at the final hurdle.”
He added; “Instead of losing that young person’s talent and ambition, we want to be able to say, ‘there is another great opportunity just down the road’. We’re bringing skilled jobs to our region and we need to make sure local people have the skills and opportunities to take them. This scheme will build on the work we’re already doing to help more people into high-quality apprenticeships and rewarding careers.”
Young people can also use the Tees Valley Careers Hub to learn more about apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships are open to people, aged 16 and over, and combine a paid job with training. They can provide routes into careers across a wide range of industries, from entry-level roles through to higher and degree-level qualifications.
Businesses wanting more information on how to get support, including with apprenticeships, can go here.
