CITB NI launch Apprenticeship Connect project

CITB NI, with funding from the Department for the Economy’s Apprenticeship Challenge fund, has launched a new scheme called Apprenticeship Connect (NI) - find, match, hire which will help match construction employers and prospective craft apprentices.

The scheme, in collaboration with employer and apprentice service provider Workplus, will ease the process for employers wishing to promote their craft

apprenticeship opportunities by helping with promotion and shortlisting. The scheme also aims to help apprentices find craft apprenticeship opportunities with construction employers.

Apprenticeship Connect (NI) - find, match, hire is open to any employer working in the construction industry and craft apprentices seeking a career in the construction industry. There is no fee involved plus the opportunity for employers to claim up to £8k of available funding (T&Cs apply).

The process to get involved is simple:

 Employer can register their opportunity now on https://bit.ly/AppConnectNI up until January 8

 Aspiring craft apprentices can apply from January 18 – February 26 on https://bit.ly/AppConnectNI.

Match

 From March 8 onwards employers will be able to match themselves with top local talent and invite them to attend for interview

Hire

 By the end of April, employers will be able to hire a suitable apprentice and claim up to £8k of funding which is paid at different stages throughout the apprenticeship term

Apprenticeship Connect (NI) - find, match, hire, is a vital part of CITB NI’s three- year careers strategy called Build Your Career, which helps to promote careers in construction and advise the next generation of the opportunities a career in the industry can bring. Build Your Career focuses on employers, young people and their influencers and helps promote and provide information and initiatives that demonstrate how construction is a viable career option as well as encouraging employment opportunities and investment in apprenticeships.

Construction apprenticeships are an important part of the career ladder and are beneficial to both the apprentice and the employer. Learning on the job is crucial to skills development whilst gaining the formal qualifications at the same time. Skills shortages, an ageing workforce and poor perception of the industry are putting the construction industry at risk. Consequently, the industry needs to do more to successfully promote itself to young people, careers influencers and meet the future demands.

Launching Apprenticeship Connect (NI) - find, match, hire, Barry Neilson Chief Executive of CITB NI said: “CITB NI is delighted to launch Apprenticeship Connect (NI) - find, match, hire. Thanks to the support from DfE and in collaboration with Workplus, we can provide employers and craft apprentices with a scheme that takes the hassle out of the promotion and shortlisting process that will help employers promote their craft apprenticeship opportunities in 2021 and help apprentices find them - all for no fee! .

“CITB NI wants to help employers realise the importance of apprenticeships, their value and help them find and recruit a young person into an apprenticeship role. We also want to highlight construction apprenticeships as an excellent career choice for young people. We encourage both employers and young people, who are considering a career in construction and a construction apprenticeship, to get involved in this fantastic scheme.”

Economy Minister Diane Dodds explained: “This Challenge Fund was designed to give those working in apprenticeships an opportunity to develop and test new and innovative models of apprenticeship development, recruitment and delivery. I wish CITB NI and Workplus every success and look forward to seeing the outcome of their project.”

Director of Workplus, Richard Kirk added: “We are very pleased to be working with CITB NI to promote craft apprenticeship opportunities in the construction industry. This scheme will allow construction employers and aspiring apprentices to come together on one platform, making it easier for employers to promote opportunities and potential apprentices to discover them, giving apprentices a single place to apply. While this has been a bleak time for many companies, we hope that this scheme will convey a positive message – that there are opportunities in a broad spectrum of roles for young people and those wishing to retrain; roles in which they can learn new skills, develop professionally and continue their education.”  

Employer deadline to register an opportunity is Friday, January 8 2021. For information or assistance call Amanda Stevenson on 07753971878 or email [email protected]. Craft apprentices will be invited to register interest from January 18 until February 26 2021. Visit www.citbni.org.uk and follow on Facebook CITBNorthernIreland, Twitter @citbni, LinkedIn citb-ni and Instagram @citbni #ApprenticeshipConnectNI.

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