TTS Launches Range of New Logistics Apprenticeships
In a further commitment to the wider transport industry in Northern Ireland, Transport Training Services has launched a range of new logistics sector apprenticeships.
The UK logistics sector contributes £127 billion to the UK economy and with the boom in online retail over the last number of years, logistics jobs have never been so vital. The logistics apprenticeships will support logistics industry employers with their workforce needs and will offer young people a pathway into a career in this vast sector.
These apprenticeships will help support logistics industry employers with their workforce needs across a range of areas including:
- Warehousing & Storage
- Logistics Operations
- Supply Chain Management
Logistics roles oversee every stage of the production process, starting with the purchasing of the raw material then moving to picking, packing, transport planning and finally the distribution of goods from the warehouse to the customer's door.
These roles are critical parts of the supply chain that ensure manufacturers have all of the ingredients or components required to make their products; that our shops, restaurants and hotels are fully stocked; and that homes across the country receive their letters and parcels on time.
For more information on these apprenticeships, please visit the new logistics section of our website.
TTS to Host 2022 Apprenticeship Open Day
TTS is holding an Open Day on Thursday 10th February 2022 as part of its Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week activities.
Attendees will find out about the range of apprenticeships and career opportunities available within the motor vehicle, transport & logistics sectors across Northern Ireland.
Any school leaver / young person, parent/guardian, teacher/careers advisor is welcome to attend, as well as any company that currently employs apprentices or would like to find out about employing apprentices.
The Open Day will provide an opportunity for those interested in learning about apprenticeships in motor, transport and logistics to visit to our purpose-built training campus to speak to our Careers and Technical Training Teams, participate in activities, engage with employers, and register as an applicant.
Registration to attend this event is advised.
To find out more about this event or to register to attend please click here.
Transport Training Services Expands Leadership
A lot has been going on at Transport Training Services since it emerged from the Covid lockdowns.
The organisation has a new Chief Executive and has added ten new members to its Board of Trustees demonstrating expertise across Education, Transport and Automotive.
Michael Strain is the new Chief Executive who comes from a 30-year career in the oil distribution industry. His career started in 1986 working for Fuel Services NI Ltd before heading to Dublin in 1997 to work for Shell Oil. Eight years later Michael returned to Northern Ireland to head up Shell’s all Ireland Local Fuels Operation as it transitioned to Topaz.
“It’s with great pride that I take the up this role with TTS. As with any new career challenge there is always a feeling of excitement and trepidation. However, I have never started a role that gave me such instant gratification and personal reward for what we are trying to achieve at TTS as a charity and a centre of education.
When leaving the oil industry, I set myself a personal goal of getting involved in either a charity or an environmental organisation. I have achieved both in TTS. As a charity we are the leading provider for apprenticeships and career focused training for people in the transport, automotive and logistics industries, providing a crucial route for young people to gain well-paid, secure, productive employment.
Transport by its nature has been, and continues to be, a major global polluter, and this is where my environmental goal gets fulfilled. At TTS, one of our missions is to work closely with vehicle manufacturers to develop new training skills, materials and facilities to cater for alternate fuels. We currently have a dedicated EV training suite and are now in the process of working with local councils and education boards to develop our hydrogen strategy. I’m looking forward to all these new initiatives and can feel my personal carbon footprint decreasing by the day”.
Michael is pleased to be supported in his role by the Transport Training Board of Northern Ireland whose board of trustees bring with them a wealth of knowledge across the transport and educational sectors of Northern Ireland.
Find out more about the new TTB board here.
Transport Training Services is a working name of the social enterprise company and charity the Transport Training Board for Northern Ireland charity registration NI101451
TTS Apprentice Employer Case Study - J & F Trucks & Vans
J&F Trucks & Vans is a long-established family business based in Mallusk. County Antrim, providing quality used vans & commercial vehicles. TTS has trained three generations of the J&F family. John Joe Junior is currently completing his heavy vehicle technician apprenticeship to learn the ropes so he can follow in his dad and grandad’s footsteps, alongside his friend since P1, Jude Stewart.
TTS was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to the three generations of the Walsh family - Frank, John Joe and John Joe Junior - about the J&F business and their experiences of partnering with TTS as an apprenticeship training provider.
Watch the J&F Trucks & Vans Video:
Apprenticeship Recovery Package Extended to 31st March 2022
As you may be aware the Department for the Economy (DfE) has been offering an Apprenticeship Recovery Package for Northern Ireland that channels financial support to local businesses to help the apprenticeship system respond to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. These incentives previously supported the return and retention of furloughed apprentices and the recruitment of new apprentices up to 31st March 2021, but TTS is delighted that the DfE have announced an extension of these schemes until 31 March 2022.
The New Apprenticeship Incentive Scheme
This scheme is open to employers who take on an apprentice participating in the Department for the Economy funded ApprenticeshipsNI or Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes with up to £3,000 available to employers for each new apprenticeship opportunity created between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2022.
This incentive is available for all new apprenticeship opportunities created, including those made available for apprentices who have been made redundant by another employer.
- Payment 1 - £2,000 after 90 days retention following start of new paid apprenticeship
- Payment 2 - £1,000 after 200 days retention following start of new paid apprenticeship
For further information and to download an application form for the scheme please see: www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-recruitment-new-apprenticeships
Apprenticeship Return, Retain and Result Scheme
This scheme is open to employers participating on the DfE-funded ApprenticeshipsNI or Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes, who return apprentices who were furloughed as part of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
DfE will provide incentive payments to help you return your apprentice(s) from furlough, retain them in work and for successful completion of their apprenticeship with up to £3,700 available per apprentice.
- Return - £500 per returned furloughed apprentice payable for the first full month of paid apprenticeship between 1 November 2020 and 31st March 2022.
- Retain – maximum of £2,000 available: £500 per month for up to 4 consecutive months of paid apprenticeship following the “return” month between 1 December 2020 and 31 March 2022.
- Result - £1,200 for successful completion of all apprenticeship components by a returned furloughed apprentice
For further information and to download an application form for the scheme please see: www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-apprenticeship-return-retain-result-scheme
If you are interested in recruiting an automotive or transport industry apprentice, please contact our dedicated Careers Development Officer, Robert Deignan on 07736958355 or via email on robertd@transporttraining.org. We can assist you with all of the necessary paperwork.
NI Apprenticeship Week Events Launched
TTS has planned a range of events to coincide with Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week (NIAW), which is set to take place from 26th to 30th April 2021.
As well as posting daily apprenticeship videos via the TTS social media platforms across the week, the following events have also been organised:
Virtual Tour and Question & Answer Session - Tuesday 27th April at 19.00
We will be hosting a virtual tour of our training facilities, followed by a virtual Q&A session. This is an opportunity for young people, parents, schools and employers to find out more about the various transport and automotive apprenticeships available at TTS, as well as career progression opportunities in these sectors.We will be joined by a panel of existing apprentice employers and existing/past apprentices, as well as tutors/staff at TTS. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions during the event, but those questions that are submitted in advance will be prioritised.
The virtual guided tour will take viewers through the training rooms, workshops and computer suites of the Transport Training Services campus in Nutts Corner so that prospective apprentices and employers can get an overview of the training environment and facilities on offer.
To register to attend this event and to submit any questions that you have, please complete the registration form. You will be sent Zoom details closer to the time.
Women Auto Learn Ladies' Night - Thursday 29th April at 18.30
As part of TTS's new Women in Wheels NI campaign to encourage more females into the transport and automotive sectors, we are planning to run a series of female-only events. Our 'Women Auto Learn' event will be hosted by a former female TTS apprentice, now a qualified vehicle technician working in a leading, local car dealership.
The event is aimed at young women (aged 16-24) and will introduce females to general car maintenance. Participants will get hands-on training on how to maintain a car, including how to carry out a full vehicle health check, as well as learn how to do basic tasks such as checking oil levels, changing wiper blades, topping up fluids, etc.
This event is ideal for any young women who wants to become more independent in maintaining her own or her family’s cars, or for females with an interest in a career in the automotive/transport industry.
To find out more about our Women in Wheels NI initiative, or to find out more about being a female working in the transport/automotive sectors in NI, please visit our Women in Wheels NI Facebook group.
PLACES ARE LIMITED & BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. To register your interest in this event, please complete the registration form. You will be contacted to confirm your place.
Please note: This event is subject to easing of covid-19 restrictions. Ideally this will be held at the TTS facility at Nutts Corner, but if that is not possible it will revert to a virtual event. Any participant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Parents/guardians or other accompanying adults will receive a tour of the TTS training centre and will have access to complementary light refreshments in our canteen.
If you think you might have an interest in a career in the automotive/transport industry or you are an employer considering an apprentice, then this is your opportunity to find out more.
These initiatives have been funded under the Department for the Economy’s Apprenticeship Challenge Fund.
TTS Launches 2021/22 Apprentice Recruitment Campaign
Accelerate your Career with an Apprenticeship
We have launched our 2021/22 apprentice recruitment campaign and are actively recruiting for live positions in a variety of apprenticeship types across Northern Ireland.
These are all full-time, fully employed, paid apprenticeships. Although we currently have vacancies to fill, we are interested in hearing from anyone that has an interest in becoming a TTS apprentice in 2021, because we will have new vacancies throughout the year and can set the ball rolling on your application process at any time. Apply early to avoid disappointment!
You can find out about the apprenticeships that we offer at the following links:
Find out About Apprenticeships in the Motor Industry:
https://www.transporttraining.org/motor-industry/apprenticeships/
Find out About Apprenticeships in the Transport Industry:
https://www.transporttraining.org/transport-industry/apprenticeships/
Most of our apprentices work for their employer five days a week (Monday to Friday) and hours of work can vary depending on the employer. The hourly rate of pay will be dependent on age and previous experience (experience not essential). Applicants must be under 25 and eligible for the ApprenticeshipsNI programme.
These apprenticeship opportunities will run in partnership with Transport Training Services, Nutts Corner, where you will attend training in a 'block release' style, for approximately one week every two months. Each apprentice attends our training centre for a unique blend of workshop practical tasks, classroom theory and e-learning. At TTS you will receive a minimum of 50% workshop practical training. Hours of attendance at TTS are 9am to 4pm (Monday-Thursday) and 9am to 3pm (Friday).
For 2021 we have launched a range of new programmes for new apprentices. To find out about the ways we will help our recruits to find an apprenticeship and how we support them in their preparation for work, check out our Apprenticeship Student Information page:
https://www.transporttraining.org/student-information/
For further details on the application process, programme eligibility or to ask any questions that you may have, please contact Robert Deignan, Careers Development Officer, at Transport Training Services on 07736 958355 or email robertd@transporttraining.org
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
TTS Launches New Initiatives to Support Transport Apprentices & Employers
Transport Training Services has launched a range of new programmes and initiatives aimed at supporting current and prospective transport industry apprentices and apprentice employers.
Supported by the Department for the Economy’s ‘Apprenticeship Challenge Fund’ and in conjunction with marketing company, Genie Insights, and workplace training specialist, CB Training Services, the new initiatives are in direct response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
TTS knows from experience that bringing apprentices into the workplace, whilst vital to the future workforce, can sometimes come with unique challenges. The experience can be much smoother and more rewarding if both parties are well prepared. Via a suite of new support programmes, TTS will offer apprentices and employers the opportunity to learn the skills they need to make the partnership successful from day one and will support both in the recruitment and selection process.
The funding that has been made available, has allowed TTS to create opportunities for apprentices that have been made redundant to get back into employment and training, and aims to ensure that the future labour pool is not negatively affected by a short-term downturn in apprentice recruitment.
Structured Support Programmes
As a long-time supplier of apprenticeship training for employers in Northern Ireland, TTS recognises the challenges faced by employers in both the recruitment process and in managing and supporting apprentices. In response to these challenges, TTS can now offer further, structured and practical support for apprentice employers, including an apprenticeship brokerage service and a workplace mentoring programme.
Apprenticeship Brokerage Service
While some employers have the means to source their own apprentices, TTS understands that it’s not always easy for others due to expertise, time or resource limitations. For those apprentice employers that need support in the recruitment and assessment process, TTS offers an apprenticeship brokerage service that matches pre-assessed apprenticeship applicants to live vacancies.
Workplace Mentoring Programme
TTS has introduced a Workplace Mentoring Programme which has been specially designed to develop workshop supervisors/journeymen in the management skills required to support apprentices from the start to the end of his/her apprenticeship framework. This is intended to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for both the apprentice and the employer.
Support for Apprentices
A range of complementary schemes will also support apprentices to secure and maintain apprenticeship employment. A new Jump Start ‘work-ready’ programme will require all new apprentices to complete a pre-employment course. For many starting an apprenticeship, this will be the first time they have ever had employment, or it could be their first time working in a structured environment, so this new initiative will make sure each apprentice has the skills and work ethic that employers desire.
Car to Commercial Conversion Course
A brand new car to commercial conversion course will also provide training to those whose employment has been affected by Covid-19 and the economic downturn. This short conversion programme will give those with light vehicle repair and maintenance experience the opportunity to upskill to heavy vehicle maintenance including pneumatic brakes, 24-volt electrical systems, heavy diesel engines and roadside recovery safety.
Women in Wheels
A final aspect of the apprenticeship challenge fund is to redress the gender imbalance in the automotive and transport sectors. Over the coming months, TTS will be specifically promoting these industries with diversity in mind in a bid to encourage more apprenticeship applications from females. A number of female-oriented events are planned and a range of promotional activities have commenced. A group of inspiring and dedicated females who are either existing apprentices or are experienced women working in a range of roles across the sectors have been identified as female ambassadors. TTS has also launched a Facebook group called ‘Women in Wheels NI’ to give females who work in, or who may be interested in a career in automotive, transport or logistics in Northern Ireland to meet and engage with other like-minded females.
To find out more about any of these new schemes or to enquire about apprentices for your business, please contact Robert Deignan at robertd@transporttraining.org or on 07736 958355.
New Apprentice Retention Scheme Launched by DfE for Employers
The news initially broke on 4th September via various local news outlets (e.g. BBC).
This is extremely positive news which could see employers being paid up to £3,700 for each apprentice that they train and retain.
We have pursued further information on the scheme from DfE and can now confirm the following:
Q: If an employer takes on an apprentice from 31st August will they qualify for the £3,000 incentive or will it only come into effect from today?
A: Employers will be eligible for all apprentices (AppsNI and HLA) that they recruited from the 1st April 2020
Q: If an employer has already paid off their apprentices, can they avail of the £3,700 if they reemploy those they have already let go?
A: Yes, If the Apprentice was furloughed, then let go and re-employed the employer will be eligible for this scheme – date of “re-employment” will impact upon total eligibility
Q: When will the incentive be paid?
A: Full details will be published online this week however:
-
Recruitment Incentive – Employer becomes eligible to apply for £2k after 90 days employment, with remaining £1k payable if retained for 200 days
-
Furlough Retention – Assuming employed / returned from Furlough before the 1st Nov, the employer can apply for the £500 return incentive, once one full month of employment has been completed (for early returners this would be the month of Nov 2020), from 1st December 2020. They can then apply for a further (up to) £2k of retain incentive in April 2021, for the period the apprentice is retained beyond the return month. The maximum retain period available is 4 months, £500 incentive per month, from 1st Dec 20 – 31st Mar 21. The returned furloughed apprentices become eligible to apply for final £1,200 once apprenticeship has been successfully completed
Q: How will it be paid? Through HMRC reduced deductions, directly from DfE or through the training contractor?
A: Directly from DfE – application process currently under development. We will publish full details as soon as possible
Q: Will the incentive simply top up the existing employer incentives already built into ApprenticeshipsNI?
A: They are separate however employer will remain eligible for any existing DfE incentives and the UK Gov Coronavirus Job Retention Bonus
This is very welcome news indeed and the funds are much needed to help sustain apprenticeships and the economy. TTS will endeavour to keep you updated as more information becomes available.
If you are interested in recruiting an automotive or transport industry apprentice, please contact our dedicated Careers Development Officer, Robert Deignan on 07736958355 or via email on robertd@transporttraining.org
Apprentices Must Remain a Priority for Employers, says new CEO of TTS
TTS's new CEO, Peter O'Reilly, is urging employers to take a long-term view when considering staffing requirements regarding apprentices over the coming weeks and months.
Recent history shows that young people are disproportionately impacted by unemployment during recession. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash, almost a third of those unemployed in Northern Ireland were between 18 and 24 - the only age group to see an unemployment rate in double digits.
For young people already part-way through an apprenticeship, the prospect of losing their employment due to redundancy is a matter of grave concern. If these apprentices were to be laid off, not only would they lose their employment, they would be at risk of losing their apprenticeship place as well. For those young people due to leave education hoping to start an apprenticeship in September, the situation is even more grim.
Whilst TTS fully appreciates the difficult decisions companies are faced with, it is urging employers to take a long-term view when considering staffing requirements regarding apprentices over the coming weeks and months.
Given the inexpensiveness of apprentices relative to their productivity, they offer employers good value when money is tight. In fact, Institute for the Motor Industry (IMI) carried out an extensive two-year study, co-funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, which showed apprentices typically generate a return on investment of between 150% and 300% and typically generate profit within 18-24 months. ‘Growing your own’ technicians through apprenticeships also reduces long-term recruitment and training costs.
Peter O’Reilly, the new CEO of TTS is urging employers to take a long-term view when considering staffing requirements over the coming weeks. He firmly believes that young people are key to securing the future workforce. He explained: “We know the potentially devastating effect that not investing in apprentice training can have. There is a knock-on effect later down the line, something the sectors that we work with are experiencing now. During the last recession, many employers chose not to invest in apprentices and that’s partly how today’s skills gaps have come about. It is our hope that employers will bear this in mind when considering their existing and future apprentice needs”.
Encouragingly, the Chancellor has now announced financial support to promote the take up of apprenticeships, but presently these measures do not apply to Northern Ireland. TTS will be pursuing local Government in the coming weeks to advocate for young people and employers in Northern Ireland on this issue.
TTS remains committed to getting more motivated young people into apprenticeship roles to support employers in the motor trade and transport/logistics industries and already has a pipeline of promising candidates assessed and ready to work and learn.
Being an independent training provider, TTS is not restricted to a September start for apprentices and can have late starters, unlike the government owned further education institutions, so apprentice numbers could increase later in the year, should the economy recover more quickly than expected.
TTS supplies talented young people in a variety of apprentice job roles within the automotive and transport/logistics sector, including: light and heavy vehicle technician, body repair and vehicle refinish technician, tyre technician, service and parts advisor, goods vehicle driving and traffic office apprenticeships (for those wishing to embark on a career in traffic planning in logistics).
To find out more about recruiting an apprentice, please contact Robert Deignan or complete the contact form at the bottom of the page here.