Lancashire Engaging Apprentices Project

Lancashire Engaging Apprentices Project (LEAP)

Background

The Lancashire Engaging Apprentices Project (LEAP) is part-funded by the European social fund and will increase the engagement of Lancashire’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) in taking on apprentices. The LEAP project launched in June 2021 and is running until 31st December 2023.

The key aim is to offer a blend of support, training and development for both apprentices (currently studying or just finished their current level) and their employers, who all work within a Lancashire small/medium enterprise.

Blackpool and the Fylde College are proud to be one of the education partners working together on this project, with the University of Central Lancashire at the helm of the partnership.

Project partners:- UCLan, Blackburn college, Blackpool and The Fylde College, Burnley College, Lancaster & Morecambe College, Lancashire Work Based Learning Forum, Myerscough College and North Lancashire Training Group. Each institution involved in the project, has designed and implemented a bespoke program, to help offer wrap around support to their apprentices, including a mentoring programme for the employer too.

Project Aim

The aim of the programme is two-fold. It will help apprentices of all ages develop soft skills, teach them new hard skills and build confidence along the way, also guiding the apprentice onto their next chosen path of learning within the bridging programme. It will also support employers or workplace mentors in their role as the apprentice’s mentor and offer extra guidance around business administration and other SME aspects.

This will be delivered in the format of both learning modules and 1:1 personal support from industry specialists and tutors at the college. This is at no cost to the apprentice or the employer and can prove to be a collection of valuable tools and training needed to succeed within the business world today.

Eligibility

To be able to become a participant in the LEAP project, the following criteria must be met along with visual proof for each section:

Aged 16 or over
Eligible to live and work in the UK
Employed within a Lancashire based SME (covered by Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Unitary authority and Blackpool Unitary Authority)
Be an apprentice or aspiring to be an apprentice OR Working within a role supporting apprentices

PROJECT TRAINING CONTENT:

Apprentices can choose any of the modules from the following 4 courses.

Business Life Courses	Mente Courses	Bridging Courses	Reditus Courses
Motivation	Introduction to mental health	Industry days out	Returning to study
Customer experience	Confidence building	Meet the expert	Growth and development
Business etiquette	Public speaking	Level up taster session	Taster days
Communication	Self care	Academic writing	Action planning
How to be a team player	Stress awareness	The career stepladder	Sign up mentoring
Time management	Pressure and performance	Pre-sessional lessons	Apprenticeship aftercare
Health & Safety	Workplace mindset	Mock interviews
Business admin basics	Basic mental health first aid	CV writing
IT skills	Empathy and mentoring others	Growth and development
Employment law	Bullying and discrimination	Upskilling
Digital marketing	Workplace culture	Resources and tools
Industry awareness	1 to 1 confidential support	Networking

Employers can choose any of the modules from the leadership course

Leadership courses
Coaching and mentoring others
Mental wellbeing (personal)
Team wellbeing
One file support
Microsoft Teams support
The apprenticeship service account (TAS) support
Managing behaviour
Career paths
1 to 1 confidential support
Communication
Workplace culture
Employment law and HR

How to apply or refer an apprentice to the project:

If you are an employer with an apprentice at B&FC and would like to register your interest, or alternatively feel your apprentice would benefit from this project, then please contact our project officers and they can discuss it with you at your convenience.

E: Tracey.Clarke@blackpool.ac.uk T: 01253 352352 EXT #4542 M: 07990346171

Partnership website: LEAP “Lancashire Engaging Apprentices Project” - UCLan

The Lancashire Engaging Apprentices (LEAP) project will increase the engagement of Lancashire’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) in taking on apprentices, both through supporting existing employees to engage in an apprenticeship or by supporting the employer to recruit a suitable candidate to the business and undertake an apprenticeship.

LEAP launched in June 2021 and is being supported by the European Social Fund. It will involve about 400 SME’s across the county and is running until 31st December 2023.

Blackpool and The Fylde College is one of the LEAP education partners across the Lancashire LEP area and the initiative is being led regionally by UCLan.

LEAP