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Gateshead College Launches Low Carbon Vehicle Academy

The number of electric and hybrid cars on UK roads is rapidly growing and sometime in near future it’ll overtake fossil fuel cars. Obviously, There is a need for experts to help people easing the transition.

That’s what Gateshead College of North East England has been thinking. So they came up with a dedicated academy for low carbon vehicle industry. They have also opened North of England’s first public access Performance Track as part of the project.

Gateshead College’s Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation (SASMI) is the UK’s first education centre dedicated to the clean technologies sector. Housed in a state-of-the-art new £9.8 million building in Washington, Tyne & Wear, SASMI will deliver a wide range of low carbon vehicles skills training, with a focus on the automotive industry.

Green cars, electric vehicles in particular, bring with them a whole new lifestyle and new driving habits. For instance, you can’t just tow an electric car if the battery died, as it’ll damage the internal systems. There are many new things to learn about them, and that’s why the idea of a dedicated academy is not outlandish. Current courses include training for first responders, helping the emergency services and roadside rescue operators to safely deal with high voltagehybrid and electric vehicles. This will be followed by innovative courses dedicated to the production of EVs.

Mick Brophy, Managing Director of Business, Innovation & Development at Gateshead College, said: “North East England is at the heart of the UK’s emerging low carbon vehicle sector, making it the ideal home for the country’s first sustainable skills academy.

“If Britain is to continue to lead the world in the development and adoption of cleaner vehicles, we must also lead in training the people who will design, build and service them.  The Academy will support the growth of a new automotive industry, delivering the skill sets needed for these vital green-collar jobs.”

Along with Nissan and the region’s leading supply chain, the two new facilities form the hub of the Government’s £200m Low Carbon Enterprise Zone, which is expected to create 7,000 new  jobs in the region over the next decade.

Government cuts apprenticeship red tape

Boost for employers as Government outlines new measures on cutting red tape deterring employers from taking on apprentices.

 

Skills Minister John Hayes has announced a package of new measures to make it easier for employers to take on large numbers of apprentices.

Payments will be simplified, contracts streamlined and a number of data returns and audit requirements will be eliminated.

Mr Hayes said that firms that contract directly with the Government to train apprentices will now benefit from simplified payment, reporting and assessment requirements.

They will also receive better guidance to help them manage the recruitment, training and assessment of apprentices more efficiently and cost effectively.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

“Apprenticeships are proving an increasingly effective training route for young people and companies. They are a proven way to fill skills gaps in our economy. That’s why we are boosting the number of apprenticeships and putting them at the heart of our Skills for Growth strategy.

“But for far too long too many businesses have been put off by overly complex procedures and unnecessary layers of paperwork. We’ve worked with business to cut bureaucracy and ensure the benefits for employers, learners and the economy are maximised”.

Action plan for cutting red tape

Announcing the measures at a summit hosted by the CBI today, Mr Hayes said:

“I’m determined that more employers and learners than ever should have the opportunity to benefit from our unprecedented investment in apprenticeships. Where red tape and bureaucracy deters employers from taking on apprentices, we’ll sweep it away.

“That will give more firms access to the skills they need to thrive, creating new jobs and new growth, and it will give many more individuals better prospects and the chance to gain a real stake in society.”

Measures for cutting red tape for employers include:

• A pilot for over 20 large employers who have volunteered to trial “payment by outcomes” which will eliminate a number of data returns and audit requirements.


• Providing an online plain-English toolkit for employers that clearly explains the end-to-end processes employers need to undertake for apprenticeships.


• Streamlining contracting arrangements.


• A commitment to no “in year” changes to contracting arrangements.


• A more proportionate approach to audit and inspection - reducing preparation time for employers.


• Greater use of electronic information, thus reducing paperwork.


• A more streamlined certification process.

These measures follow the recommendations of a review led by the Employer Reference Group, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and large companies, including BT and TUI Travel.

Susan Anderson, the CBI's director for education and skills policy, said: "Cutting bureaucracy will support even more businesses to become involved and these recommendations set out the right path for reform.

"They recognise that employers are primarily concerned with the day-to-day running of their businesses, and that they are committed to offering high quality training as their reputation and business success depends on this."

Employers urged to work with unions to increase Apprenticeships among BME communities

Employers are being urged to work with trade unions to increase black and minority ethnic (BME) communities' participation rates in Apprenticeships by unionlearn, the TUC's learning and skills organisation.

According to estimates by the National Apprenticeship Service, only eight per cent of Apprenticeships are currently taken up by members of BME groups.

"Unionlearn is calling on employers to reconsider their recruitment strategies to ensure that the apprentices they employ reflect the diversity of the area where the workplace is based," said unionlearn director Tom Wilson.

"Employers should make a special effort to offer work experience and open days to young BME people."

Linda Clarke, professor of European industrial relations at Westminster Business School, who has researched obstacles for ethnic minorities in accessing vocational training in the construction industry, said: "The reality is that many employers still want to work with people like themselves. So if they are white and male, the chances are they'll look to recruit similar types."

There were 279,700 Apprenticeship starts in the 2009/10 academic year, and Skills Minister John Hayes has announced aspirations to surpass an all-time record of 400,000 apprentices. However, only 30 per cent of companies of 500+ currently take on apprentices.

Versa Professional Services plans to join unionlearn in hosting an event to raise awareness to increase the numbers of young people from BME groups who take up Apprenticeship training.

Simon Tepper, Versa's director of diversity in Apprenticeships, said: "We know that by ensuring that all young people are able to make an economic contribution to our society that we will grow stronger as a society.

"Apprenticeships are becoming ever more popular with young people who see the clear advantages of receiving a wage whilst training. Many apprentices value the adult atmosphere of work and are encouraged to take higher levels of training throughout their career. The conference will give the opportunity to hear directly from apprentices and employers."

Mark Thompson

500 apprentices wanted for hotel management programme

The company is looking for its first 50 apprentices this summer for the new scheme titled JuMP (Junior Management Programme).

JuMP is a fast track route into management and offers A -level students (18+) with an alternative to going to university. On this programme college leavers can continue their education, obtain work experience, receive a salary and become a manager by the age of 21.

Travelodge have launched the scheme on response to Chancellor George Osborne’s appeal for British companies to generate more high value apprenticeship placements to help the one million young people currently out of work in the UK to gain jobs.

Guy Parsons, Travelodge CEO commented: “Our nationwide JuMP programme offers school leavers an alternative career choice, to going to university. The fast track management programme provides a real job, with the opportunity of on the job training throughout the business, combined with further education and the opportunity to earn up to £30,000. In contrast to going to university and graduating with a debt of £43,224* and facing an overcrowded jobs market.

Skills Minister John Hayes said: “Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to get the training they need to build successful careers, and for businesses to train a new generation of employees with the skills that drive growth.  I applaud Travelodge for its commitment to apprenticeships; and with additional funding of £180m in this budget alone, this government is enabling more employers to follow its lead”.

In support of its JuMP scheme, Travelodge surveyed British youngsters aged 16 to 18 years old, to gain their views on going to university and apprenticeships. The key findings are listed below:

• (71%) of respondents are questioning the value of going to university due to the rising costs and the apparent lack of graduate jobs in the current market.


• (53%) of school leavers think it’s vital to have a degree to become a manager in a major UK company.


• (51%) of 16 – 18 year olds would not associate an apprenticeship scheme with a management job and 53% think it would not be possible to become a manager at the age of 21 without going to university.


• (53%) of 16 – 18 year olds stated they are worried about their future due to Government cut backs.


• (68%) of respondents stated working in the UK tourism industry is not an aspirational job


• Only 20% of 16 – 18 year olds thought the UK tourism industry is one of the country’s top performing industries.

Respondents predicted if they went to university, the average debt they would have upon graduation is £21,884; which is well below the predicted figure of £43,224 by the Government.

Guy Parsons, Travelodge CEO said: “In response to our survey findings, it’s right that today’s youth should be concerned about their future. In today’s economic climate, going to university does not guarantee a job upon graduation. It’s also very concerning that school leavers don’t really know the cost of going to university and think its £22,000 when the reality is more than double this figure as stated by the Government.  Also there is a lot of naivety around apprenticeship schemes and the UK tourism industry. Therefore, I am hopeful that our JuMP initiative will help dismiss these outdated, snobbish views and that today’s youth will see the potential of becoming a leader; in a powerhouse industry of the future.”

On the Travelodge JuMP scheme, apprentices will experience practical, vocational learning in hotel management, retail, operations, marketing and customer service. Apprentices will attain a L2 Apprenticeship in Multi Skilled Hospitality and a L3 Diploma (Advanced Apprenticeship) in hospitality Supervision & Leadership. Upon completing the apprenticeship programme apprentices will undertake the Travelodge in house 12 week management programme and then graduate to a management role.
A JuMP apprentice is expected to earn in total between £25,000 to £30,000 from training to graduation.