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- Develop your people
- Develop your team or organisation
- Government Plan for Jobs
Government Plan for Jobs
The Government Plan for Jobs aligns with BCS’ societal objectives and through our community, industry partnerships and policy influence we’re committed to back this essential plan to support businesses in their post COVID-19 recovery.
Working in collaboration with our partners, our intent is to support action that builds a strong economy and creates a talent pipeline that’s diverse, inclusive and provides the economy with the digital skills needed for the future of work and to deal with the unknowns ahead.
What is the Government Plan for Jobs?
The Plan for Jobs is considered critical in re-building the economy, getting people into work and businesses back on their feet. It’s the next step towards economic recovery and securing the UK’s long-term prosperity.
There are funded programmes in place which will help people get a job and gain work experience and qualifications with clear progression routes. We’ll be sharing how employers can work with training partners and educators in their community and how they can benefit from these programmes.
The Plan for Jobs can support organisations to create jobs that will support their future digital strategies and vision by recruiting the talent they need. The COVID-19 pandemic saw business without a digital model suffer, so as we enter a new era of work it’s critical that everyone in society has the basic digital skills for both life and work.
How can BCS support you to harness what is available?
Select the Plan for Jobs programmes below which are of interest to you and find out what units of learning are approved to be delivered within the funded programmes. Read the BCS policy briefing document for a full summary of the Plan for Jobs.
If you're an employer wishing to understand potential digital skills gaps in your organisation you can use practical team development tools such as our SFIAplus framework as a starting point.
Our skills audit platform, RoleModelplus is built around the SFIAplus framework and gives you absolute clarity around your skills landscape and the steps needed to achieve your objectives. This may lead you to using some of the schemes available via the Plan for Jobs shown below to upskill team members or recruit new team members.
If you're a provider looking to deliver a programme or units of learning, find out more here
What does the Government Plan for Jobs include?
- A new payment of £2,000 given to employers in England for each new apprentice they hire aged under 25, (£1,500 for each aged 25 and over), from 1 Aug to 31 Jan 2021.
- Payments in addition to the existing £1,000 already provided for new 16-18-year-old apprentices, and those aged under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan where that applies.
- Government will pay £1,000 per trainee to employers who provide work placements and training to develop workplace skills and vocational learning to prepare for an apprenticeship or a job.
- The government will improve provision and expand eligibility for traineeships to those with Level 3 qualifications and below.
Guidance for prospective trainees, employers and training providers on traineeships
Traineeships: information for employers and education providers
- Newly introduced in Great Britain to create high quality 6-month work placements.
- Funding for each job will cover 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.
Check if you can apply for a grant through the Kickstart scheme
- T Levels are an alternative to A levels, apprenticeships and other courses.
- T Levels are equivalent to 3 A Levels and develops broad vocational skills - includes 80% off the job learning and 20% work placement (opposite to an apprenticeship).
- Appropriate for young people who know the vocational area they want to work in, but not sure of the exact occupation, and do not feel ready to go into employment.
- Support available for the 700,000 young people due to leave education this year.
- £101 million for the 2020-21 academic year to give all 18-19-year old school and college leavers in England the opportunity to study targeted high value level 2 and 3 courses when there are not employment opportunities available to them.
Continuing to develop digital professionals with BCS membership
Every BCS member signs up to the BCS code of conduct, confirming their commitment to professionalism and to working in the best interest of society.
We have membership levels to suit and support everyone working in the industry at every career stage. Our members are shifting the perception of IT professionals in the workplace by giving them a voice and the confidence to grow in their careers.
More resources
A new world of training opportunity: Covid-19 and the UK government’s plan for jobs
The world has been plunged into a war against COVID-19. Like all wars, after the devastation, there is a period of re-assessment and rebuilding. At our recent webinar, The government’s Plan for Jobs in the digital economy, we were joined by representatives from ESFA, IfATE, Youth Employment UK and Capita to examine why the Plan for Jobs is important and how the UK is getting back to work.
Career advice links
Post 16 options
You must stay in some type of education or training until you are 18. There are many options available when you turn 16, look at what option best suits you and your situation, strengths and interests.
Post 18 options
There are a lot of options to choose from at 18. What’s right for you will depend on your situation and the career or job you have in mind.
The Skills Toolkit
This Toolkit is made up of free online courses, tools and resources to help you improve your digital and numeracy skills.
Advice for jobseekers
Job help from Jobcentre Plus, including articles on how to get work-ready, updating your skills and tips for interview success.
Careers advice
The National Careers Service can help you make career decisions throughout your life. From deciding your education route at 14 to planning a career change at any age.