Take part in taking on
April 1st 2010 Employers collaborate to take on young cleaning apprentices announces Asset Skills
Cleaning and facilities management employers are being
urged to take part in a new scheme offering cleaning
apprenticeships to young people.
The programme is being run by the training arm of FM and
support services company Jarvis, which has funding for 50
apprentices aged 16 to 18 years on the Cleaning and Support
Services Apprenticeship.
Other employers who have signed up along with Jarvis to offer
work placements and jobs as part of the project include Keir,
Ecovert, G4S and Interserve.
Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for facilities management and
cleaning, is calling on employers to get involved to ensure the
success of the first phase,which starts in April.
"This is really good news for young people especially at a time of
high unemployment," says Karen Waterlow, facilities management
and cleaning specialist at Asset Skills.
"The new Cleaning and Support Services Apprenticeship is an
excellent first step in to a range of rewarding careers in the cleaning
and FM industries. It is encouraging to see employers collaborating
on skills and we would urge others who can offer an apprentice the
chance of good quality work experience and a job at the end of it to
get involved."
Jarvis will employ the apprentices for the period of the
programme which will be delivered in 22 weeks and the host
employer will need to provide minimum of 16 hours work each
week. Jarvis will cover all employment costs, other than PPE and onsite
supervision.The company will deliver all the training on site and
will offer all the apprentices a completion bonus as an incentive to
stay on programme.
Employers are being sought all over England but particularly in
the following cities – Sunderland, Liverpool, Sheffield,Oldham,
Birmingham and London, where pilots are already planned. There is
flexibility on other locations – particularly if an employer can offer a
number of places.
Employers may be involved in the recruitment of the
apprenticeship if they wish and will be asked to provide a
commitment to continue the young person's employment
(providing they are suitable) after the 22 week period has been
completed.This will potentially be a rolling programme with the first
pilot starting in April. Employers can indicate interest for future
phases should they wish.
Asset Skills is supporting this pilot for collaborative employer
working and is looking at such innovative models as part of plans
for a 'virtual skills academy' for FM. It is keen to hear from employers
interested in progressing the Jarvis scheme and the idea of a virtual
skills academy. For more information please contact Karen
Waterlow,
kwaterlow@assetskills.org More articles from Asset Skills: | 
