Apprenticeship Alliances website Later in January 2017 we launched our new websitehttp://www.apprenticeshipalliances.eu/.ThecontentbeentranslatedintoPolish,FrenchandSpanish.TheEuropeanPlatform isnowonline.ComewithusontheOneStopShop.OneStopShopsarelocalfocalpointsforSMEsto‘dropin”and access up-to-date information, guidance and training fromfriendly, informed staff. There are 6 one stop shops run by thedesignated partners and support on apprenticeships for SMEsduringtheprojectlifespan.Theone-stopshopsareanactualmeetingpointforSMEslookingforinformationandideasfromthosewhohaveexperiencetooffer.

Teaching materials and Tools

Develop focused information resources, high impacttrainingmodulesandotherpracticaltoolstoequipSMEstobecomeapprenticeemployers.This tool will build the capacity of intermediaryorganisationstoputinformation,guidanceandtrainingtoSMEsinblendedlearningformat,aswellasfordirectonlineuse by SMEs. Modules will typically be designed aroundUK/Irelandcontext.

Wewillprovide6modules:

APPRENTICESHIP ALLIANCES.EU Ezine#2, June 2017

- TheUntappedPotentialofApprenticeships–BenefitsforSMEsofApprenticeships- DesigningandResourcinganApprenticeship- SuccessFactorstoEffectiveRecruitment- AddressingaLackofWorkReadiness- TrainingandMentoring,KeytoSuccess- ProgrammesforDisadvantagedLearners

Therearemanyyoutubeclipsarefromtrainingproviders–hereitisoneexamples:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP_GveVS2cA

Our Impact ApprenticeshipAllianceswillgenerateatangibleimpactontheabilityof80+intermediaryorganisationstoliaisewithkeyactorsandaprovideinformation,guidance,traininganddirectiontoSMEs,whoasaresult,willbemorelikelytobecomeapprenticeemployers.Firstly,byparticipatingintheRegionalApprenticeshipAlliancesandjointlydevelopingandexecutingtheRegionalActionPlans,intermediaryorganisationswill:

• learnmoreabouttheroletheirorganisationplaysintheapprenticeshipecosystem

• haveknowledgeandtoolstobetterpromoteSMEdemandforapprenticeshipsintheregionandofferspecifictrainingandguidancetothem

• gaininformationonpotentialsectorswhereapprenticeshipscanbedevelopedintheirparticularregion(partofregionalallianceworkplan)

• buildthepersonalnetworksandfacetofacecontactsrequiredtoworkwithVETproviderstodevelopnewopportunitiesforSMEsintheirregion

• havealargervoiceinhelpingshapeapprenticeshippolicy–theyrepresentSMEsmoreandbringthatnewinformationtothepolicytablehigherupthegovernmentchain.

Morethan370SMEswillplayanactiveroleintheprojectandgainagreaterknowledgeofthestructureofcontemporaryapprenticeshipprogrammesandwillunderstand“thebusinesscase”forbecominganemployerofapprentice(s)

4th Anniversary of European Alliance for Apprenticeships in Malta

The4thAnniversaryofEAfAtookplaceinMaltaonthe30–31ofMay2017.Theevent,organisedbytheEuropeanCommission,DG-EMPLandtheMinistryofEducationandEmploymentofMaltawaspartoftheagendaoftheMaltesePresidency.ItwasagoodoccasiontocelebratethesuccessoftheAllianceanddisseminateourprojectduringthese2days.

DuringthepaneldiscussionMr.RobertPlumberfromBusinessEuropegaveamainmessage“Thereneedstobeanopennessatnationalleveltoreformapprenticeshipsystemssoastomakethemcost-effectiveforcompanies,whichwillhelptoencouragemoreemployerstooffer an apprenticeship”. Furthermore, commenting on the European Commission'santicipatedinitiativeonaEuropeanCouncilrecommendationforaEuropeanframeworkforqualityandeffectiveapprenticeships, itwasaddedthatsuchaproposalneedsto lookatqualityandeffectivenessintermsoflearningoutcomesandemployabilityandtoadvocateappropriate governance structures that give a clear role to employers and socialpartners.This will help to improve the relevance of apprenticeship trainingvis-à-viscompanies’skillsneedsandstrengthencareerprospectsforapprentices.EAfAisauniqueplatformwhichbringstogethergovernmentswithotherkeystakeholders,likechambersofcommerce,businesses,socialpartners,vocationaleducationandtraining(VET)providers,regions,youthrepresentativesorthinktanks.Thedelegateslistenedtothetestimoniesandmanysuccessstoriesofyoungpeoplewhofoundtheircareerpathwaywiththehelpoftheapprenticeshiptrainingincompanies.ThesestoriesareasourceofinspirationfortheAlliancetodevelopandexpand,coveringdifferentareasofeducationfortheyoungpeople:fromVETbasedapprenticeships/practicaltrainingperiodsincompanies,Erasmus+mobility,HEstudentsinhigh-techcompanies,andofcoursehelpingtheNEETstodiscovertheirtalentsandhelptointegrateintotheworkinglifeandbecomeactivecitizens.New members joined the Alliance and signed thePledgeonthe2nddayoftheevent.TheyrepresentthewidestspectrumofstakeholdersacrossEurope:from EU member states (e.g. Bulgaria, Serbia,Iceland,Portugal,etc.), regionsandcities in theEUcountries, social partners (e.g. Latvian andMalteseChambersof IndustryandCommerce,Airbus,etc.),toyouthorganizationsanddifferenttypesofNGOs(like OBESSU). The European Alliance for

Apprenticeships was established in July 2012 and the movement for implementing theapprenticeshipcultureacrossEuropestarted.EfVETwasamongthefirstonestojointhealliancebysigningthePledgeonbehalfofthePlatformoftheEUVETproviderassociations(nowitistheVET4EU2Platform).Thecommongoalistostrengthenthequality,supplyandimageofapprenticeshipsinEurope,andmorerecentlymobilityofapprenticeshipshasalsoemergedasanimportanttopicFor more information

Grand Designs Kitchens and Bedrooms

Margaret Reilly of GrandDesigns Kitchens and Bedrooms joined Ireland’srecentRegionalAlliancemeeting. Margaret toldalliancemembersofherjourneyfromstartingasanapprenticecabinetmakertogoingontoestablishher own successful company and becoming an apprentice employer.Margaretsays,“Asaformerapprentice,Iplacegreatvalueonthepracticalaspects of the ‘on-the-job learning’. From my perspective, I consideremployingapprenticesnot simplyasan investment in thembuta shrewd

investmentinmycompanyintothefutureasIamemployingpeoplewhoarekeen,capableandwhowillgrowwithusasourcompanygrows.

Today when SMEs face problems related to start up, innovation and growth, they find help in intermediary organizations, such as chambers of commerce, enterprise support offices in local authorities, regional economic development agencies. Nonetheless these organizations are staffed by highly professional business advisors, yet, apprenticeships are entirely missing from their service provision. Like us on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AppenticeshipAlliancesEU/