Learning Agreement

The chance for 16 - 17 year olds in jobs without accredited training to:

• try out free training
• get paid £250 to train
• choose their training
• get a taste of how training can help their future

The chance for local employers to:

• get training free
• get £250
• develop a workforce positive about training
• improve productivity and skills

Get a taste of training

What is it?

• Learning Agreement is the pilot testing out financial incentives to reduce the numbers of 16 – 17 year olds in jobs without accredited training. Our Connexions Partnership is one of only eight nationally that is part of the Learning Agreement pilot running from April 2006 to March 2008.
• There are 7,000 16 – 17 year olds in our area in jobs without accredited training. They work in small businesses and also in large national companies whose in-house training is not nationally accredited. They are more likely to drop out of work and find it difficult to re-engage in education, employment or training.
• The Learning Agreement is designed to encourage young people to get a taste for accredited learning that will lead to further and more advanced training and thus better prospects.
• Young people and employers can access a wide range of free flexible training courses, up to level 2. How they are trained and the time it will take, will be agreed between the young person, the employer, the Connexions Learning and Skills Broker and the training provider.
• The young person will get a total of £250 from Connexions (£50 at the start, £50 as interim payment and £150 on completion) for a Learning Agreement that involves a minimum of 30 guided learning hours.
• The Learning Agreement is designed to be easy to manage. Connexions Learning and Skills Brokers and training providers will monitor the young person's progress and sort out any problems that might arise throughout the Learning Agreement.
• Employers will need to give the young employee the time to do the training – in the workplace, in learning centres or as ‘distance learning'.
• The Learning Agreement does not replace Apprenticeship training – structured training needing significant commitment from employers and employees. We hope young employees completing a Learning Agreement will continue onto more advanced training.
• The employer will be paid £250 from Connexions when the young person has completed their Learning Agreement.
• It's an exciting opportunity to encourage our young workforce to get a taste for training and to eventually help increase the productivity of our local businesses. The Pilot will influence the Government on future youth support policies.

We already have the support of our key partners – Learning and Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus, Devon and Cornwall Business Council, Business Link and the Training Provider Network. For more information about how you can be involved contact the Learning Agreement team leader at your local Connexions centre >>