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It has been a challenge, but Beatbullying has run apprenticeship schemes since we were founded. Over the last seven years, four young people have graduated from the BB Apprenticeship scheme and gone on to either work full time for Beatbullying or find excellent jobs with other charities.
It has been a struggle because the third sector had no learning council or skills body, and there was no obvious route map for charities to take.
We receive no grants to help with the training or college placements, no advice or support from agencies, and even the job centre refuse to advertise our scheme, claiming we are only offering ‘pretend apprenticeships’ and that we are breaking the law if we just advertise for 18 year olds. Still we persevere.
There are currently over 180 different apprenticeships on offer across 80 sectors of industry, yet perhaps unexpectedly the third sector has failed to embrace apprenticeship schemes.
This decision is perplexing because the third sector contributes £45 billion to the economy, employs hundreds of thousands of citizens, delivers world class training and staff development programmes, and is at the forefront of innovating change across the UK. Yet we don’t do apprenticeships.
I am keen to change that, and to try and open up the debate within the sector so we can discuss the benefits of apprenticeships schemes and the huge contribution apprentices can make to the health and wellbeing of the third sector.
Many leading businesses across the UK, including ASDA, British Gas, Norwich Union, BMW and the AA, are taking advantage of the benefits of apprenticeships to motivate and train their staff and improve their productivity and outcomes.
Apprenticeships are expanding and changing their image too. There are now apprenticeships in broadcasting, film and video production, hospitality and catering, with companies like the BBC, Vodafone and Tesco taking part.
Isn’t it time the charity sector caught up? All the evidence suggests that well-managed apprenticeship schemes add to the productivity, talent pool and efficiency of organisations.
Young people make a valuable contribution to workplace morale and team spirit, and effective schemes save money on training, recruitment costs and staff retention.
Investing in these young people, who will work for and manage charities in the decades to come, seems logical. However, perhaps more importantly, assisting, supporting, training and giving life chances to young people seems to be exactly what our sector should be doing.
In an attempt to take this process forward, and with Kevin Brennan’s support, I hope this article and accompanying survey will open up a debate on third sector Apprenticeships. The process will involve bringing together a coalition of interested charities, big and small, to begin this debate and then scope out, and perhaps over time deliver, a framework for a Third Sector Apprenticeship scheme.
If you have a moment, please fill in this brief survey (there are only five questions).
If you are really interested in getting involved, you may want to join our steering committee or receive more information. If this is the case, please email me at emma-jane@beatbullying.org