Recommendation 33

HM Government Accepted

Returnerships are targeted at adults over the age of 50 who are returning to work or seeking a career change by bringing together apprenticeships, skills bootcamps and sector-based work academies (SWAPs), and will raise awareness of these pathways, providing a clear route back into work and encouraging employers to hire older workers. apprenticeships. We will be promoting the availability of ‘accelerated apprenticeships’, which can support workers to complete their apprenticeship more quickly if they are progressing from other pathways like skills bootcamps, or where they have already gained relevant skills and experience earlier in their careers. We offer flexible front-loaded training that is appealing to older workers re-entering the workforce. Apprenticeships can also be undertaken part-time, with agreement from the employer, with the typical duration extended to reflect this. Skills Bootcamps were introduced at the end of 2020 to deliver short, free, flexible training courses for priority sectors with skills shortages and high growth sectors. They are available to adults aged 19 and over, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills, with an offer of a job interview with an employer on completion. The Budget has announced £34 million of additional funding in 2024–25 for Skills Bootcamps. The additional funding builds on the £550 million to expand Skills Bootcamps from FY2022–25 and will provide up to another 8,000 places for adult learners, bringing 26 Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets: Government Response total skills bootcamp places to 64,000 by 2024–25. We expect this to include roughly 1,000 Skills Bootcamp training places for the over-50s starts, based on current participation rates by age. DfE’s Skills for Jobs reform programme is putting employers at the heart of our skills system by aligning our training offers to employer-led standards and therefore strengthening routes into jobs the economy needs in key sectors such as engineering, digital, and clean energy. Our engagement with employers is sector-aligned to ensure a strong link between education and jobs. For example, T Level Panels draw on the experience of employers, professionals, and practitioners from relevant sectors to inform the design of T Levels. Returnerships are being promoted as part of the Skills for Life campaign and by DWP Work Coaches in their support to over 50 claimants. The next burst will be live in June 2023 and will direct adults to further information at Unlock your potential – Skills for Life: https://skillsforlife.campaign.gov.uk/ The National Careers Service provides free, up to date, impartial information, advice and guidance on careers, skills and the Labour Market in England. Professionally qualified careers advisers support customers to ensure that they are: • informed and aware of the wide range of learning and work opportunities that are available to them; • better able to independently manage their careers; identify opportunities and respond to challenges in the employment and training market; and • are aware of and able to access accurate and up to date information about careers and learning from the National Careers Service whenever they need it. The Service helps customers make informed choices about their career options, whatever their age, ethnic group, and background. Discussions are tailored to meet the individual needs and circumstances of each customer. Adults aged 50 and over who are unemployed, or a risk of redundancy are one of the priority groups for the National Careers Service. National Careers Service employer engagement leads play a crucial role in disseminating labour market information, sharing best practice and intelligence with each other and with careers advisers, as well as engaging with key local stakeholders. The National Careers Service works with industry sectors to disseminate key information and updates via bulletins and newsletters to careers advisers in the community. They Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets: Government Response 27 can also facilitate webinars and Q&A sessions to help careers specialists keep up with developments—this is a partnership as it requires input from industry to ensure that content is accurate and up to date.