PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Sector-based Work Academy Programme
The CIPP’s policy and research team outline the programme
I n July 2020, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, unveiled his ‘Plan for Jobs’ (http:// ow.ly/pl0730rC295), and announced the expansion of the Sector-based Work Academy Programme with the handy acronym SWAP. The aim of the SWAP is to help businesses to start building a skilled workforce, which will benefit both them and the wider labour market as well as, of course, the individuals enrolled onto the SWAP. The fundamental aim of the programme is to help those who join to build their confidence, improve their job prospects and enhance their CVs. Under the scheme, individuals in receipt of unemployment benefits – universal credit, jobseeker’s allowance, or employment and support allowance – are supported in preparing for jobs in specific areas of work through sector-based work academies. The intention of the placements is to assist companies in fulfilling their current recruitment needs, whilst also employing a workforce with the appropriate skills to grow their businesses. The programme is available in both England and Scotland and is administered by Jobcentre Plus. Sector-based work academies can run for a maximum of six weeks, and the placements must ensure that they provide pre-employment training, a work experience placement, and a guaranteed job interview, or alternatively, assistance with an employer’s recruitment process. The placements must incorporate all three of these elements. However, where businesses are struggling to offer all three components, Jobcentre Plus may be able to help with this by, for example, allowing them to work in conjunction with other similar employers to deliver all elements of the placement. Individuals who are enrolled on the programme will continue to receive social security benefits, and the government may fund any of the costs incurred relating to travel or childcare whilst they are on the scheme. Additionally, employers will see no direct cost for running a sector-
based work academy, as all of the training and administration costs are met by the government. Individuals interested in taking part in the SWAP should liaise with their work coach, who will give guidance relating to the types of opportunity available in their local area and discuss with them their suitability for a sector-based work academy. ...build their confidence, improve their job prospects and enhance their CVs. ● Pre-employment training – Jobcentre Plus, along with a variety of training providers, want to work with employers to establish well-designed sector-specific training, with the goal of meeting the needs of employers and the wider market. Jobcentre Plus will work alongside employers to help them to create the most appropriate package to suit their recruitment needs. In England, any SWAP training is fully funded via the Education and Skills Funding Agency and delivered through colleges and other training providers. In Scotland, the funding will be funded in full by Skills Development Scotland, or another partner organisation. Again, the training is delivered by further education colleges and other training providers. Employers or partner organisations are welcome to deliver their own training if they wish to and can do. ● Work experience placement – For the duration of the work experience placement, employers should aim to treat participants in alignment with regular employees as much as possible but may offer additional support through extra coaching and supervision. To ensure that both participants and businesses benefit from the placement, employers are expected to:
❍ explain what the participants are required to do ❍ advise them of management and reporting arrangements ❍ encourage positive working relationships ❍ give an overview of their business, and the core values and culture ❍ provide a tour of the workplace ❍ provide instructions on the use of equipment ❍ provide guidance on health and safety ❍ give details of standard workplace practices (e.g. dress code). The ongoing pandemic situation may mean that some processes and practices need to be adapted, but Jobcentre Plus is keen to assist employers in providing participants with a full understanding of what jobs will involve. ● Guaranteed job interview – Where a guaranteed job interview is offered, this will give participants invaluable interview experience, and could lead to them securing a position within a company. However, it is accepted that some companies operate different recruitment methods which may mean they cannot say for certain that they can offer a job interview. In these scenarios, participants should be supported through the recruitment process as far as is practicable. n The benefits of the SWAP The SWAP has been designed to benefit both individuals and employers. Individuals who enrol on the programme are given the opportunity to gain experience in a sector that they may not have previously had exposure to, and the SWAP aims to help them build confidence in that area. For employers, it is the chance to provide work experience placements to ensure that any potential employees are prepared and suitable for a role within their company. Further information is contained in the Sector-based work academy programme: employer guide (https://bit.ly/3cVx6Od).
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | May 2021 | Issue 70 18
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker