What if I am Unemployed

EWPAR – Experienced Worker Practical Assessment Route

The Construction Awards Alliance has introduced this NVQ assessment method as an alternative assessment for experienced workers. It is designed to test practical competence and underpinning knowledge of candidates across the full range of NVQ competencies. It is designed specifically for candidates who have adequate experience in the relevant occupation. It is an alternative method of assessment for those who prefer to demonstrate their skills by a series of practical assessment. The candidate undertakes a professional discussion and questioning with the assessor. This will be based around all aspects of the qualification being assessed. Candidates must have the relevant experience over a period of time that will enable them to complete the practical assessments in the recommended time. Also witness testimonies from employers will be required. You will learn through the following methods:

• Practical assessments.
• Question and Answer.
• Professional discussion.

An Assessment will be carried out throughout the 1st day of the course. On successful completion of the course you will achieve an NVQ Level 2 in your required trade. Candidates can use this qualification to help gain employment in the given trade.

Training offer for those unemployed for six months

The Prime Minister announced, at the Employment Summit on 12 January 2009, a package of measures for people who have been unemployed for six months to help them to get a job. Training is an important part of this package and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has announced an investment of £83m, from April 2009 over 16 months, to fund an extra 75,000 places specifically for people who have been unemployed for six months.

This training offer is intended to provide a significant uplift to an individual’s level of skills or enable them to develop new skills that will help them to move into a job, including in a different occupation. Participants will enrol on a vocational qualification at level 2 or 3 which is of direct relevance to the local labour market. Continued training after getting a job, through Train to Gain, an apprenticeship or part-time study around work commitments will be a key aspect of this offer, enabling participants to achieve a full level 2 or level 3 qualification (or, exceptionally, a skills for life qualification).

The LSC has worked urgently during March and April 2009 with colleges that deliver both employer responsive and adult learner responsive activity to identify areas of their current provision that matches local labour market opportunities and can be delivered flexibly to meet the needs of those unemployed for six months. Such colleges will be close to local employers and understand their needs, and will also be in a position to ensure individuals continue to be supported through the relevant funding stream to complete their qualification.

Colleges typically have an extremely broad offer, which covers most occupational areas, so they are able to offer a training programme which meets employers’ needs, links to the local labour market and can be tailored to the circumstances and career aspirations of the individual. Also, various modes of attendance are usually available so part-time study to fulfil benefit conditions or work commitments can be delivered. The curriculum offer required is therefore already likely to be in place, so delivery can start at once. However, greater flexibility, for example in terms of multiple start dates throughout the year and the facility for participants to easily continue with their training after they have got a job, may need to be developed.

Ministers feel that colleges are an important resource for their local communities with a real contribution to make to improving local skills and employability. Colleges therefore have an important role in responding to the economic downturn and addressing the skills needs of people who are out of work. This new offer is intended to stimulate and support colleges to quickly develop the critical links needed to help an unemployed learner to get a job and to continue in learning after starting work. Ministers want colleges to play a full role in delivering an effective skills response to the economic downturn and delivering this offer initially through colleges will help them to quickly develop their capacity in this area.

The LSC and Jobcentre Plus are working closely together to ensure that training relevant to the local labour market has been available from April 2009. We will be reviewing the coverage of the initial offer to consider where it might be attractive widen the delivery base to potentially include independent providers, local authorities, external institutions or other relevant organisations. In this case, the LSC will contact relevant colleges and providers to invite expressions of interest around the delivery of this offer.

Delivery organisations must be in direct receipt of both adult learner responsive and employer responsive LSC funding, be able to deliver provision relevant to this offer and to provide on-going training leading to the achievement of a qualification for participants through their mainstream programmes. The separate funding for this activity is scheduled to finish at the end of July 2010. After this, delivery organisations will be expected to deliver appropriate provision for people unemployed for six months from their mainstream funding.

The LSC will be reviewing provision to ensure that there is good coverage (particularly in rural areas), and if necessary will look to negotiate with other training providers to deliver this offer. The LSC will review the delivery of this offer on a quarterly basis in the context of performance, unemployment patterns in local areas and regions and the available job opportunities and will look again to ensure good coverage, and that funding is with providers who are delivering successfully. The LSC will continue to work with Jobcentre Plus to determine how resources should best be directed to meet urgent and priority needs. This may mean that, according to need, funding could be moved between areas and institutions, and that new delivery organisations could be involved at a later stage.