Alternate recruitment pathways
Traditional recruitment pathways often create barriers to young people with special educational needs and disabilities when transitioning from education into employment. We have included some alternative recruitment pathways that can support you in overcoming these barriers and working alongside the education sector to nurture the future skills requirements of the construction sector.
Did you know?
The purple pound refers to the spending power of disabled households. Many organisations lose approximately £2 billion a month by ignoring the needs of disabled people
(Purple: changing the disability conversation, 2020)
The outlined pathways will also:
- reduce the time and cost associated with recruitment and remove some of the risks of recruitment by providing a ‘professional recruitment service’ via the education provider and time to ‘test’ the new relationship through work placements
- provide access to a wide pool of young people that have traditionally been overlooked for employment but are motivated and passionate about working
- engage and support the local community during this challenging time, particularly with the exponential impact on young people’s employment
- ensure that your workforce more accurately represents your community and customers, providing innovation in understanding disabled people as customers to access the ‘purple pound’. This can be particularly important in to the creation of infrastructure for long term accessibility
- strengthen diversity and equality in the workplace and raise your profile as a socially responsible employer provide young people with pathways to paid employment leading to financial and social independence, improved confidence, wellbeing and self-esteem
- access to financial assistance (through Access to Work) to make needed adaptions to support disabled employers to carry out their work successfully
- support your organisation to meet your obligations under the Social Value Act through procurement
Supported internships
Supported internship programmes are work-based learning placements, with the aim the learner will secure a job at the end of the placement.
On-going support is available from the Further Education providers, including a job/ skills coach who will support the learner with their work placement.
The employer does not need to pay the learner a wage, as a work-based placement forms part of their education programme.
Placements should last at least 6 months and up to one year, with either a single high-quality placement or high-quality rotations within the employer/ between employers.
Hours can vary, but the intern should spend 70% of their time in the workplace, with the government recommending a minimum of 20 hours per week.
The learner will have the opportunity to complete qualifications relevant to their work placement and personal study programme at their college, alongside the work placement.
Supported internships are a partnership between the employer and college, which aim to provide young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) the opportunity to experience the workplace and help employers by providing a matching service to ensure they have the best person for their job.
Find out more
Watch a video about Hampshire County Council's Supported Internship Programme.
Apprenticeships and supported apprenticeships
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are an opportunity to work and learn at the same time. The apprentice would attend the workplace and study alongside this, to gain the skills and qualifications related to their job. The ‘off the job’ training is usually 20% of their time. How this is delivered is agreed between the employer, education provider and the employee.
Apprentices are employed members of staff and have the same rights as any other employee. Apprentices (19 and under) must be paid at least the national minimum wage for apprentices.
Recruiting an apprentice gives you, as the employer, the opportunity to employ someone who is motivated and wants to learn. They can share their skills and experiences and you can adapt their training to your business needs.
Find out more
- Hire an apprentice (Apprenticeships)
- Watch a video about reasonable adjustments throughout the apprenticeship journey (Education and Training Foundation)
- Watch a video about apprentice support for learners with SEND (Education and Training Foundation)
Did you know?
If you apply for Access to Work within the first six weeks of employment they will fully fund workplace adjustments required. Following this you will be asked to contribute and the amount will depend on the size of your organisation. Please see the Access to Work factsheet for employers (Gov.uk)
Supported apprenticeships
Supported apprenticeships use the same framework as a standard apprenticeship but offer extra support for apprentices with special educational needs or disabilities.
If the apprentice requires part time hours, rather than the traditional minimum of 30 hours per week, the provider can extend the minimum duration of the apprenticeship.
There may also be some flexibility around the English and maths requirements as they can now complete Entry Level 3 Functional Skills instead of Level 1 and reasonable adjustments can be made during the apprenticeship to ensure success and at end point assessment.
There are a range of funding streams available to support employers:
- Access to Work funding - will help to pay for workplace assessments, any workplace adjustments that are required, job/skills coach and a contribution towards specialist equipment
- extra support is also available for small employers. Please see section 3.5 on this factsheet for further information.
- all tier one construction contractors will usually support with sponsoring a learner to help remove barriers. This could be funding travel, lunch or equipment needed which would help to support their study such as a laptop or books. This is available for both supported apprenticeships and internships
- Learners and providers can also access funding to support the learner. Please watch this webinar about how to access and use learner support funding for further information
Find out more
- Apprenticeships for people with a learning disability (Mencap)
- Inclusive Apprenticeships (British Association for Supported Employment (BASE))
- Employer toolkit (The National Voice for Lifelong Learning (NIACE))
- Watch a video about reasonable adjustments throughout the apprenticeship journey (Education and Training Foundation)
- Watch a video about Apprentice support for learners with SEND (Education and Training Foundation)
- Watch a video about How to access and use learning support funding (Education and Training Foundation)
Work experience (WEX)
An opportunity for young people to see the world of work and how the skills and knowledge they are learning in education can be used in future jobs. A WEX learner may shadow employees and learn what their job involves or complete tasks with the support/observation of a mentor.
WEX placements can be tailored to meet organisational and individual needs e.g. one day per week over six weeks as an alternative to the traditional two week block placement.
Extended WEX placements also give you the time to work with the young person and shape their skills to the needs of your workplace, whilst developing your own staff by offering a mentoring/supportive role.
By offering WEX, you can see how the young person works, rather than how they perform in an interview, which can be helpful if you are planning to recruit in the future.
Did you know?
If you apply for Access to Work within the first six weeks of employment they will fully fund workplace adjustments required. Following this you will be asked to contribute and the amount will depend on the size of your organisation. Please see the Access to Work factsheet for employers (Gov.uk)
Find out more
- Work experience: employer guide (Gov.uk)
- Work Experience: Employer Guide (Youth Employment UK)
The Technical Construction Skills for the Unemployed project (TCS) offers construction training courses and employment support across north Hampshire and Surrey in Winchester, Basingstoke, Aldershot and Guildford. TCS is funded by the European Social Fund. Training or support is free and for anyone unemployed and over 18 (learners are welcome).