This months stories:
Graduate Apprentice scheme
GRADUATE EXPERTISE BOOSTING REGIONAL BUSINESS
If you are looking for a simple and cost effective way to find new people for your business then Graduate Apprentices can help. Offering a 12 or 24 week subsidised work placement and a free recruitment service, Graduate Apprentices is the perfect opportunity to try out a highly skilled Newcastle University graduate and see how they’d fit into your business.
The scheme attracts both recent and experienced graduates - so whether you are looking for a fresh graduate to train or a graduate with one to three years of work experience, we can find the right candidate for you.
"Robin is an excellent addition to our team. He has brought enthusiasm and fresh thinking to the business, and is already taking on projects that are adding real commercial value to us. We are delighted to have benefited from the scheme and would certainly recommend it to others.” James Drake, Sales Director, Eclipse Networks
Interested employers will benefit from:
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A free recruitment service which includes advertising, candidate screening and short-listing
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£100 per week towards the graduate’s salary
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Expertise and ongoing support from Newcastle University Careers Service
“We have been immeasurably impressed by the scheme, the quality of the initial candidates, the calibre of our chosen graduate, the help, guidance and support of the scheme organisers and the ease of participation.” Suzi Howey, Creative Director, Food Local Food
There are two distinct Graduate Apprentices schemes:
SME (Less than 250 employees)
Graduate Apprentices offers small to medium size enterprises the opportunity to recruit a Newcastle graduate for an initial 12-week subsidised period. Enquiries from any North East based SMEs are welcome, however they are particularly keen to support employers in the following sectors: Subsea, Process industries, Healthcare, Voluntary and Cultural.
Larger Organisations (More than 250 employees)
Graduate Apprentices offers larger organisations the opportunity to recruit a Newcastle graduate for an initial 24-week subsidised period. The Graduate scheme is keen to support a wide variety of North East based organisations and welcome enquiries from any sector. Many organisations are already on board across all kinds of industries, from marketing to engineering and healthcare to finance.
For more information on Graduate Apprentices, please contact: 0191 222 7748 or email graduate.apprentices@ncl.ac.uk|
Apprenticeships for 16 & 17 year olds
NEW GRANT AVAILABLE FROM NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SERVICE
Last year, despite tough labour market conditions, over 70,000 16 and 17 year olds started an apprenticeship. Despite this there are still many more young people who want to learn whilst they are in work and The National Apprenticeship Service is determined to make sure that the opportunities are there for them to do so.
They have introduced a new Apprenticeship Grant called ‘AGE 16 and 17’, which will provide up to 5,000 Apprenticeship Grants for employers of apprentices aged 16 and 17 years old with a value of £2,500. The £2,500 grant is in addition to the costs of training which is met by the National Apprenticeship Service.
Which employers can benefit from AGE 16 and 17?
The service aims to support employers to offer new and additional places in support of young people, and is targeting those employers who would not otherwise have been in a position to recruit an apprentice or who are able to offer more apprenticeship places than they would otherwise have done.
In particular, they want to support small and medium sized employers who are interested in employing an apprentice for the first time, or who want to employ an additional apprentice over their traditional level of recruitment.
Larger employers can be supported where they can demonstrate that they are overtraining to support smaller employers in their supply chain/the wider sector or recruiting in excess of their traditional levels of apprentice recruitment.
When will AGE 16 and 17 be available?
The grant will be available immediately. However, this initiative is a short-term measure (available until the end of March 2010), and is available now for employers who are able to offer a job opportunity to an unemployed young person aged 16 or 17.
Employers will receive a quick response, either through the National Apprenticeship Service, or through their training provider, on whether the Apprenticeship Grant is available. All training providers who hold a contract to deliver apprenticeships with the LSC are able to offer this incentive to employers.
How will employers receive the grant?
The payments will be administered by the National Apprenticeship Service through an approved training provider network who will manage the payments and paperwork. Employers will receive the grant in two payments - £1,500 when the young person starts their Apprenticeship and a further £1,000 after 12 weeks.
The National Apprenticeship Service will help employers to find a suitable training provider to deliver the training programme and to recruit an apprentice.
Employers will be asked to sign an agreement which commits them to employing a new or additional apprentice in paid employment for the duration of the apprenticeship training programme. Employers will pay the apprentice at least the minimum apprenticeship wage of £95 per week, including off the job training. If the apprentice leaves early, the employer will be asked to repay a proportion of the grant.
Which young people are eligible?
All 16 and 17 year olds who are not in employment and not already on an apprenticeship programme are eligible. This includes those who may have had a place in a college or school but have subsequently dropped out. The young person will need to have been recruited and in work before the end of March 2010.
Your vacancy can also be advertised on apprenticeship vacancies – the National Apprenticeship Service’s online service that matches candidates interested in an apprenticeship with employers offering them.
To apply for AGE 16 and 17 is simple and straightforward.
Call the National Apprenticeship Service on 08000 150 600 or visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk| and someone from the National Apprenticeship Service will contact you to discuss the support available in more detail.
Team Valley Trading Estate
NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE
Workers, learners, shoppers and visitors to the Team Valley can benefit from a brand new service which can help them make informed choices about how they travel as well as an opportunity to save some money.
teamvalleylinks.com is a new Team Valley travel and community website which is supported by a Travel Centre at Maingate. Visitors to the Travel Centre can pick up travel information from the display stands or seek help with any travel queries. A member of the team will be present at the Travel Centre every Tuesday and Thursday between 11am and 1pm.
This unique resource is the result of a groundbreaking partnership between North East Property Partnership (Buildings for Business), Gateshead Council and the Highways Agency.
For more information go to: www.teamvalleylinks.com|
Tell Your Friends and Family!
GATESHEAD EMPLOYMENT FAIR 2010
Gateshead Council’s Economic Development Service is holding its annual Employment Fair at The Sage Gateshead on Friday 19th March 2010. The Fair will offer local residents an excellent opportunity to meet a wide range of employers with current vacancies.
This free event will run from 10am to 3pm and will bring together over thirty five employers with vacancies across a variety of sectors.
Council officers will also be available on the day to give information, advice and guidance on returning to work, dealing with redundancy and exploring self-employment.
Contact Economic Development Service on 0191 477 3747 or email economicdevelopment@gateshead.gov.uk|
Is your business resilient enough?
BUSINESS CONTINUITY CONFERENCE
A major regional conference on Business Continuity and Business Continuity Planning will take place on Wednesday 24 March 2010 at The Newcastle MetroCentre Marriott, Gateshead. It is jointly hosted by Tyne & Wear Local Authorities, Tyne and Wear Emergency Planning Unit and Northumberland County Council.
The context for the conference is ‘Resilience over Uncertainty’ which is underpinned by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 designed to enhance the resilience in the face of modern day hazards and threats. The aim of the conference is to raise awareness of the importance of Business Continuity Planning for businesses in the region and to give practical advice and help.
The day will focus on larger and small businesses, including those who are suppliers to Local Authorities in the region, and the practical actions that can be taken to ensure that they are resilient and able to survive disruptive challenges. A briefing pack on business continuity issues will be available at this session. The conference will also provide a range of useful information and products that can be applied, which draw on good practice already developed by London First and by the Business Continuity Institute. This will be available in both hard copy and electronic versions.
If you are interested in attending, programme details and a registration form are available from: www.twepu.gov.uk|
Gateshead Digital Summer
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL FESTIVAL LAUNCHED
Gateshead is getting ready for seven weeks of Wow! as preparations for a major international festival celebrating the digital age get underway.
The 2010 Gateshead Digital Summer will be the region’s first ever international celebration of digital technology, with events attracting industry experts from throughout the UK and Europe, as well as local businesses and the public.
Gateshead Digital Summer, which will run from 24th May to 10th July, will boast great films, international guest speakers and important announcements about the latest developments in digital innovation, attracting industry experts from around the region.
The games industry will be well represented, with an important international games conference coming to Gateshead, along with opportunities for the public to see sneak previews of yet-to-be-released video games and the chance to take part in a major video game competition.
Events already scheduled include:
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The international ‘Thinking Digital’ conference at The Sage Gateshead, a three-day event for industry experts examining the latest in digital innovation and attracting speakers and around 400 delegates from the US and Europe,
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‘GameHorizon’, Europe’s only international conference for game designers and manufacturers, with previews of upcoming games, reviews of current and future technologies, and a host of international speakers,
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‘Popcorn’, a two-day digital film festival that celebrates the new age of cinema and gives local youngsters the chance to learn more about the latest mind-blowing digital techniques.
In addition, plans are also being made for the launch of Gateshead Game Hero 2010, a battle played out in public between 96 of the best video game players in the region.
Gateshead Digital Summer will be taking place at venues throughout Gateshead including The Sage Gateshead on Gateshead Quays and the Metro Centre.
Dozens of other events and a host of smaller activities are also being planned for the 6 week festival.
Gateshead Digital Summer is being jointly co-ordinated by Gateshead Council and Codeworks, the centre for digital innovation. Based in the North East, Codeworks has hosted a number of exciting events within the region, and is one of the key regional supporters of the digital sector.
The 2010 Gateshead Digital Summer will run from 24th May to 10th July with key events held at The Sage Gateshead, MetroCentre, and elsewhere in Gateshead. Further details, including details of Game Hero 2010 and other events, will be announced soon.
For further information, check the Gateshead Digital Summer website www.gatesheaddigitalsummer.com, or sign up for regular updates and latest news on Twitter at http://twitter.com/gatesheadsummer |
For further information on Gateshead Digital Summer, contact Chris Pape, Economic Development, Gateshead Council on 0191 433 2019 or email chrispape@gateshead.gov.uk|