Traineeships

Students training at New Directions College

Traineeships

Traineeships are Government funded skills development programmes. Here you will find an overview for Trainees and Employers. You can also find out more information on the Gov.uk website.

Overview for Trainees

A traineeship is a skills development programme that includes a work placement within Reading Borough Council or with a different local employer who is working with the College to offer work experience placements. It can last from 6 weeks up to 1 year (although most will last for less than 6 months). Our programmes typically lasts for 12 weeks.

Traineeships help 19 to 24 year olds – or 25 year olds with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan get ready for an apprenticeship or job, if they don’t have the appropriate skills or experience.

Who can apply

You can apply for a traineeship at New Directions College if you’re:

  • eligible to work in England
  • have little or no work experience but are motivated to work
  • aged 19 to 24 – or 25 with an EHC plan – and qualified up to level 3

What a traineeship includes

Traineeships are free. New Directions College will provide you with:

  • training to prepare you for work, including CV writing and what to expect in the workplace
  • support to improve your English, Maths and Digital Skills if you need it
  • sector focused vocational learning to help prepare you for your apprenticeship or job and recognition of your learning
  • a high-quality work placement of at least 70 hours
  • an interview for an apprenticeship or job, if available, or an exit interview with written feedback

Programmes will be tailored to meet your needs and prepare you for what local businesses are looking for.

A traineeship is a training programme and isn’t a job. Employers are not required to pay you for the work placement, but they can support you with expenses such as transport and meals.

If you are eligible, you can maintain your entitlement to benefits whilst on a traineeship as necessary.

Along with recognition of your learning, there will be support to link you with job opportunities.

You may get:

  • expenses for transport and meals from your employer
  • financial support for travel, childcare or a disability from your training provider
  • support from your local Jobcentre Plus if you are eligible for work benefits

Overview for Employers

A traineeship is a skills development programme that includes a work placement. It can last from 6 weeks up to 1 year (although most will last for less than 6 months). Traineeships help 19 to 24 year olds – or 25 year olds with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, get ready for an apprenticeship or job if they don’t have the appropriate skills or experience.

Benefits to employers

A traineeship:

  • is flexible, can be sector focused and is funded by the government
  • gives your current employees experience in training and mentoring
  • allows you to design a programme that suits both the needs of your business and the needs of the trainee
  • can help you increase capacity and productivity
  • can help you develop a loyal and talented workforce
  • allows you to help tackle youth unemployment
  • is a route into an apprenticeship
  • allows you to get to know and work with young people prior to recruiting apprentices

Employers who make new work placement opportunities available may also receive an incentive payment of £1000 per learner, for up to 10 learners. More guidance will follow on this new incentive.

Your responsibilities

When offering a traineeship work placement you need to provide:

  • safe, meaningful and high-quality work experience
  • a minimum of 70 hours of work experience – but no more than 240 hours for benefit claimants – over the duration of the traineeship (maximum of one year) and as agreed with the traineeship provider
  • constructive feedback and advice to the trainee
  • an interview for an apprenticeship or job in your business at the end of the traineeship if one is available
  • an exit interview at the end of the traineeship with meaningful written feedback if no job is available

The traineeship is free to your business, but you may support trainees with expenses such as transport and meals.

Designing the programme

New Directions College will assess the needs of the trainee. Trainees may need pre-employment training before starting work experience.

You and the College will then plan and agree:

  • the days the trainee works
  • how the programme will be delivered

Traineeships are flexible. You can adjust the programme as you go to make sure you and the trainee get the most out of it.

After the programme

You should:

  • offer the trainee an interview at the end of the programme if a job or an apprenticeship is available in your business
  • provide an exit interview with meaningful written feedback if no job or apprenticeship is available

Want to find out more?

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