The programme is intended for NEET learners 19 - 24 who are generally assessed to be closer to the labour market in terms of their attitudes to work and motivation to secure employment.
Trainees will also be required to attend various other locations to complete the work based placement element with the Wigan Council Greenspaces.
ESA, Lone Parent, JSA, etc… The only criteria is they must not already be in education, training and employment (NEET)
The Outdoor Work Preparation Traineeship is for young people aged 19 - 24 who are now ready to make the progression into employment or an apprenticeship. This is an ideal opportunity for young people who enjoy practical outdoor work and want to develop this into a career. As part of the Traineeship, learners will undertake a work placement within a carefully selected organisation setting selected from a variety of different sectors specific to their interest or aspirations.
The programme is for a maximum length of 24 weeks and the majority of trainees complete their work placement within the Wigan Council Greenspaces carrying out activities such as horticulture, land-based work, aquatic management, park management and environmental management under the supervision of Wigan Council staff. This allows the local authority to train and mentor the trainees to prepare them for employment with the Greenspaces. The Wigan Council Greenspaces adopt a philosophy of if the trainees are motivated, attend punctually, work hard and display good attitudes they will be interviewed with the majority employed. Trainees will then be assessed following a 6 month period of employment and provided with the opportunity of progressing from this initial employment contract to more specialist roles with the Council services. The work placement element of the Traineeship is for a 15 – 18 week period and trainees will be required to attend for between 3 and 4 days each week on their selected work placement. The initial 5 – 6 weeks of the programme is based around preparing the trainees prior to starting their work placement. Trainees will initially attend classroom based sessions at the Fir Tree CIC Education Centre in which they will work towards accredited BTEC Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications/units in Land-based Studies, Interview Skills, Self-Management and The Management of Self and Others in the Workplace. Embedded within the classroom based sessions is the delivery of accredited Functional Skills in Maths and English to further support their employment prospects. Learners are carefully monitored within their work placement settings with regular reviews and assessments taking in place and new goals and targets identified to support their development.
Experience has shown us that the majority of our trainees once given the necessary training, guidance and support within a carefully structured work placement, are then able to successfully manage the transition into full time employment.
Transport to and from the Centre is provided to all learners via a free minibus pick up and drop off service from Wigan town centre. The primary pick up point is outside Wigan Youth Zone.
Trainees will attend the provision for 4 – 5 days each week covering a total of 30 and 35 GLH each week. This is a combination of classroom based delivery and work placement experience.
The programme is for a maximum period of 24 weeks. The majority of trainees complete a 15 – 20 week provision before progressing into employment/apprenticeship.
Trainees will have the opportunity to work towards a BTEC Level 1 or Level 2 Certificate in Land-based Studies and a Level 1 or Level 2 Award in Work Skills. Trainees will also undertake Functional Skills in Maths and English (relevant to their assessed level) from Entry Level 3 to Level 2.
This is a roll on, roll off programme and referrals can be made at any time to either Daniel Bowman, Martin Taylor or Louise Kenny by contacting 01257 251502 or by emailing info@firtreecic.co.uk.
