Targeted Pathways to Modern Apprenticeships
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) recently secured European Social funding for 800 Targeted Pathways to Apprenticeships (TPA) places.
Skills Development Scotland require learning providers to offer additional vocational skills training opportunities for young people that will lead to employment or a Modern Apprenticeship.
Provision should target the following priority group:
16 to 19 year old unemployed young people. Within this, priority is to be given to those young people that have qualification levels General and above and therefore capable of undertaking a MA framework.
TPA provision will be targeted towards the following key sectors:
- Hospitality
- Tourism
- Engineering
- Financial Services
- Energy and Renewable
- Administration
- Retail
These sectors are not exclusive and other sectors out with these may be considered by SDS where the learning provider can clearly demonstrate evidence of local employer demand and progression opportunities.
Key components of delivery must include:
- Employability Training
- Basic Occupational Skills
- Leading to a VQ or certification
- Employer Experience
TPA may be delivered via training centre provision, employer placement or a combination of both as relevant to the local area, sector and occupational skills. All young people must attend TPA provision for a minimum of 25 hours a week. The length of the programme will vary across sectors and by Provider and payments will be made to reflect this via Norm Plan values.
Details of how Skills Development Scotland plans to fund the new Targeted Pathways to Apprenticeship programme are set out in the word document below:
Application Process
- Proposals are invited from existing MA providers who can:
- identify provision to meet the needs of the target client group
- demonstrate evidence of employer demand and opportunities for young people
- demonstrate they have a proven track record in delivering Modern Apprenticeships and establishing relationships with employers
- demonstrate they have resources and capacity to deliver TPA provision.
If you would like to submit a proposal to deliver the TPA programme, please complete the Targeted Pathways to Apprenticeship Proposal Document. There are guidance notes available to assist you.
Completed proposals should be returned by email to: TPAproposals@sds.co.uk
Completed Proposals must be returned no later than 12 noon 3rd September 2010. Late applications will not be accepted and therefore will not progress to the next stage.
Next Stage
Fully completed proposals received by the due date will be evaluated by the National Operations Team using the following criteria:
- Provision to meet demand
- Evidence of opportunities
- Past performance in delivering Modern Apprenticeships
- Infrastructure and capacity to deliver
- Contracts will be awarded to those Learning Providers who can best meet the evaluation criteria and the strategic priorities of SDS.
Successful applicants will be notified w/c 13th September 2010.