The Shared Apprenticeship Scheme allows construction companies to take on apprentices even if they cannot commit to employing them for the full duration. It provides flexibility and removes the financial risk for companies. Apprentices are employed by the Scheme and companies are only charged for the time the apprentice spends with them. The Scheme benefits companies by providing talented young workers when workloads increase and helps apprentices gain qualifications and experience in the industry.

1. Shared Apprenticeship Scheme
With a CITB Shared Apprentice,
help is always at hand
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2. The Shared Apprenticeship
Scheme gives you the support
you need, when you need it
The Shared Apprenticeship Scheme
is an innovative collaboration between
CITB and regional partners. It has
been established in response to
industry demand, as a way of providing
construction contractors with an
opportunity to meet local training
obligations, and to maximise additional
training opportunities for apprentices.
• Do you have a training opportunity
in an area that you don’t traditionally
work in?
• Have you identified a training
opportunity within your company
for an apprentice, but can’t commit
to the long-term employment of
that apprentice?
• Are you committed to giving
apprentices an opportunity to
learn and progress?
Then the Shared Apprenticeship
Scheme could be for you.
Partnering with the local Community:
The Shared Apprenticeship Scheme, Building Skills for
the Future (BSFF), has been established in partnership
with Fusion21 to cover Merseyside and Cheshire.
Gerard McEvoy, Director of Penny Lane
Builders Ltd explains why they signed
up to the scheme.
“We got involved in the shared
apprenticeship programme because of its
flexibility. If we get a busy period we can
take a trainee on, but we aren’t financially
committed for the normal length of an
apprenticeship which is about three years.
This lack of risk means we’re more likely to
employ more apprentices in the future.”
“The scheme works for us as Building Skills
do an assessment of trainees before they
start. They’re given a full induction and
an apprenticeship tool kit which prepares
them and makes sure they have the right
attitude. This also frees up our time. We get
invoiced for each apprentice rather than
having to pay them through our payroll so
we have less administration.”
Gerard explains that the scheme makes
good business sense but it also enables
them to give something back to the
community. “We’re giving people a chance
to get a position in the building industry
when they might have otherwise struggled
to find work.”
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3. Benefits of the Shared
Apprenticeship Scheme
• The Shared Apprenticeship Scheme
gives you the opportunity to take
on an apprentice, even if you can’t
commit to the full two or three year
duration.
• Because the apprentice is employed
by the Shared Apprenticeship
Scheme, the employment
responsibilities will be taken care of
and you will only be re-charged for
the time the apprentice is with you.
• The flexible nature of this scheme
can provide your business with the
chance to secure new contracts
and at the same time provide an
opportunity for an apprentice.
• Your business will benefit from
an injection of energy from talented
young people when your workload
peaks.
• All Shared Apprentices get the
best training the industry can offer
– with CITB.
• We will provide trainees with a
strong desire to succeed, and
who will have already successfully
passed our selection procedures.
• Our focused selection process gives
you the opportunity to select the
correct person for your company.
• Your business will benefit from
the significant saving of the
costs normally associated with
recruitment.
• Your apprentice will be fully
supported by CITB representatives,
who are committed to helping them
complete their qualifications and
become successful tradespeople.
• At the end of the scheme you
have the option to take over the
apprentice’s employment – adding
a fully-trained member to your
workforce.
Why construction is a ladder to success
“A CITB Shared
Apprentice allows
construction contractors
to meet any local training
obligations required as part
of contract procurement
requirements.”
– Ofsted
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4. For more information about the Shared
Apprenticeship Scheme, contact:
Building Skills for the Future
Tel: Nancy Sutton 0151 481 3007
Email: buildingskills@fusion21.co.uk
Visit: buildingskills.net
For more information on what
CITB has to offer:
Tel: 0344 994 4044
Visit: cskills.org/apprenticeships
Contact
To find out more visit
citb.co.ukcitb.co.uk
For more information visit:
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