Training initiative for young disadvantaged people shows encouraging signs

Citation

(2006), "Training initiative for young disadvantaged people shows encouraging signs", Education + Training, Vol. 48 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2006.00448eab.008

Training initiative for young disadvantaged people shows encouraging signs

The Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) has praised the Entry to Employment (E2E) training programme, which aims to get disadvantaged young people into training and employment. Most young people who join E2E have under-achieved at school or work and few have experienced success. Often, they lack confidence and self-esteem and suffer significant personal and social problems. Approximately one-third of E2E learners consider themselves to have a learning difficulty or disability. But, with the right guidance, most of them have potential to succeed. At the end of the last reporting year, almost 21,000 young people were on E2E programmes funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), with 320 providers.

The ALI report reveals signs that the investment in E2E is paying dividends. More young people are leaving E2E programmes to continue in the areas of training or employment. Also, given fresh impetus by excellent individual support, many are beginning to develop the personal, social and vocational skills they need for future success. According to LSC data, the success rate (learners who left E2E to go into work, a college course or an apprenticeship) is 43 per cent.

The involvement of employers who can provide relevant and flexible work placements is crucial. More employers have to support E2E if the programme is to build on its successes. Where productive partnerships between providers and employers have been established, the rate of progression to “real” jobs has improved significantly. Flexibility is a vital attribute of successful programmes. The report reveals that the best results come from those training providers who have risen to the challenges and produced flexible and highly-individualised training programmes. Many learners join E2E only “because they have to” and are more likely to drop out if they feel that the programme is irrelevant to them.