Apprenticeships Support for Employers in New Anglia

Call to run a project which will be designed to support non apprenticeship levy paying businesses and those apprenticeship levy payers who are part of a larger group but have local control over their levy to provide and develop new apprenticeship and workplace opportunities across the New Anglia geography.

Details

New Anglia has a relatively low-skilled, low wage economy when compared to other areas of the UK. Many of our businesses face skills shortages and a skills ‘pipeline’ that needs to be developed for our emerging sectors to source employees locally.

A significantly low percentage of businesses offer apprenticeship opportunities (8.2%), however businesses also suggest that they are set to experience a shortage of skills and talent in their sector, with 69% of businesses admitting to their concerns that they will not be able to find the right staff in the future

New Anglia LEP (NALEP) are committed to delivering an additional 5,000 apprenticeships, with at least 500 SMEs investing more in apprenticeships by the year 2020.

Projects should provide a range of engagement activities aimed at enabling more SMEs to offer apprenticeships and work experience opportunities including, but not limited to:

• Providing information and support to businesses which haven’t offered apprenticeships or work experience opportunities before
• Re-engagement with businesses who have offered apprenticeship opportunities in the past, but no longer do so for various reasons
• Support with the recruitment of apprentices, possibly through an Apprenticeship Training Agency or localised brokerage service
• Long-term mentoring and support for businesses throughout an apprentice’s qualification
• Advice and guidance on providing opportunities for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups within the labour market

Applicants will need to demonstrate a proven track record in delivering activity related to apprenticeships and traineeships or work experience opportunities (that lead to apprenticeships) including details of engagement with local organisations and businesses involved in the delivery or employment of apprentices. Collaborative bids will be welcomed, which bring together organisations with different skills and expertise to deliver a package of activities.

For more information, download the call specification.

Location

The project must cover the New Anglia LEP area.

Value

Approximately £550,000 of ESF is available.

Deadlines

Full application deadline: 12 December 2019.

Completion date

Projects must be completed no later than 3 years and 6 months after the proposed project start date, however the ESF Managing Authority reserves the right to vary the maximum duration in exceptional circumstances. All ESF Projects must be completed by 31st December 2023. Project costs cannot be incurred beyond this date.

Full Application Submission

To apply for funding under this call you will need to complete and submit your Full Application via the ECLAIMS IT System.

Please note: the ECLAIMS IT System can only be access from within the UK.

Full Applications submitted in the ECLAIMS IT System after the call closing date shown above and on the call specification will not be appraised.

If you do not already have access to the ECLAIMS IT system, please request an ‘ECLAIMS External Access Form’ by emailing [email protected].

You will need to request an External Access Form for each person in your organisation who requires access.

It is your responsibility to ensure you request and activate your ECLAIMS access in sufficient time. We strongly advise that you obtain and activate your ECLAIMS access at least 2 weeks prior to the advertised call closure date, if not sooner.

You are also advised to read the details in the call specification in order to produce an application that complies with the requirements and meets the needs set out in the ESF Operational Programme. All this information, the related guidance and the European Social Fund Operational Programme can be found from our homepage.

The published ESF Online Full Application Guidance also provides step-by-step advice on how to complete your Full Application using the ECLAIMS IT system. ESF Online Full Application Guidance.

Technical Support

If you encounter any technical difficulties completing or submitting your Full Application via the ECLAIMS IT system, please send an email to [email protected].

The technical support operating hours are Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm and it is your responsibility to ensure you seek and technical advice in sufficient time to complete and submit your Full Application before the published call closure date.

The Managing Authority reserves the right to reject applications which are incomplete or not submitted in a timely and compliant way.

Contact details

If you have any questions about the Call Specification or ESF Online Full Application Guidance, please contact [email protected]. This address should not be used to request technical support.