News

New SEND resources for employers

09/11/20

The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) has published a new set of resources specifically aimed at raising the levels of confidence in employers and CEC Enterprise Advisors to increase the level of valuable encounters with employers and experiences of the work environment.

The materials cover 3 stages:

  • Awareness and engagement: 
  • Planning and implementation
  • Evaluation and review

There are also some supporting videos.

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Committee inquiry into disability employment gap

05/11/20

The Work and Pensions Committee is investigating the gap between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people and how the Department for Work and Pensions can better support disabled people in the labour market.

They will be looking at trends in the disability employment gap, the economic impact of low employment rates for disabled people and the assistance available to help people in work. The inquiry will also cover the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Committee wants to hear from as many people as possible, especially disabled people, and has produced the call for evidence in text, audio, British Sign Language and EasyRead formats.

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NAS launches Autism at Work service

21/10/20

In association with the Bloomfield Trust, the Employment and Enterprise team at National Autistic Society (NAS) has launched a new employment programme, Autism at Work. The programme supports employers to promote job opportunities to autistic job seekers. It then supports applicants through the recruitment process and successful candidates to prepare for and succeed in their role. 

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Ambitious About Autism partners with Santander Universities UK

15/10/20

BASE member Ambitious About Autism has announced a pioneering partnership with Santander Universities UK and 17 high profile higher education institutions. Employers can join the programme for free to access autistic talent, training and support as well as salary costs fully funded by Santander Universities UK. 

Professionals can also register their autistic clients who have attended one of the partner universities. To find out eligibility for this unique and ground-breaking programme for autistic students and graduates, register your interest.

You can also follow them on social media via the following hashtags #SantanderUniEmployAutism #EmployAutism

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Apprenticeship statistics 2019-20

08/10/20

The Department for Education has published apprenticeship statistics covering the full 2019-20 academic year (August 2019 to July 2020). They show a 46% decline in apprenticeship starts - 58,160 compared to 107,750 in 2018-19. This is unsurprising given the Covid-19 pandemic and there was a steep drop in starts from March 2020. There are encouraging signs that start numbers are picking up again now.

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CAEHRS winners announced

05/10/20

DWP has cconfirmed the organisations that have successfully tendered to be included in the Commercial Agreement for Employment and Health-Related Services (CAEHRS). The agreement goes live on 5 October and replaces the existing Umbrella Agreement.

In total DWP received submissions from 61 organisations with a total of 171 compliant submissions across the 7 regional lots. Overall this has resulted in a total of 28 organisations being awarded a place on CAEHRS, 21 of which have multiple places and 7 have single awards. DWP is able to offer further places should they become available.

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Mark Kilsby

24/07/20

It is with great sadness that we heard that Mark Kilsby passed away this morning. We send our love and hugs to his partner, Julie Allan, who was with him when he died peacefully in a hospice in Cardiff. Mark had been ill for a few weeks and had spent some time in hospital.

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Guidance on Supported Internship continuation

15/06/20

We have received revised guidance from the Department for Education about Supported Internships. Providers have been understandably keen on clarity about whether, and how, Supporterd Internships can continue into the next academic year.

We understand that the following text has been cleared by Treasury and Ministers for input into the FE operational guidance. 

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New DWP guidance for Supported Businesses

20/05/20

DWP has issued new guidance to Supported Businesses confirming ministerial approval has been granted for the Transitional Employer Support Grant (TESG) to be claimed whilst an employee is at home due to Covid 19. The guidance also sets out the requirements for providing evidence of the continued support provided by the SB and offers options as to how signatures can be obtained.

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Research into Supported Internship delivery

28/02/20

Cooper Gibson Research (CGR) has published a research report looking at how Supported Internships are delivered. The research, commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE), aimed to explore: 

  • The models and approaches to delivery of supported internships available for young people with EHCPs in England. 
  • The factors perceived to be associated with success for supported internships. 
  • Perceived barriers to the success of supported internships, and how these may be overcome. 
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