Sector Work Based Academy Programme Project (SWAPS)

SWAP programmes are an alternative way to recruit into your business. Placements are designed to help meet our employers immediate and future recruitment needs as well as to recruit and support candidates with the right skills to embark on their apprenticeship or work journey.

SWAPS are available for Jobseekers claiming either Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and help prepare those unemployed to apply for apprenticeship or work opportunities in a different sectors.

SWAP programmes assist with Apprenticeships Suffolk current work, generating apprenticeship opportunities with small and medium sized business in Suffolk and generate further apprenticeship opportunities in sectors where recruitment has been affected by COVID-19.

Steadfast Training will be delivering this project by creating and running the SWAP programmes across Suffolk. The SWAP placements will be 6 weeks long and the programme will be split into 3 main components:

1. Pre-employment training; matched to the needs of the business sector, Steadfast will design the content of sector-specific training that meets the needs of the business sector. The training will give participants chance to undertake units on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)
2. Engagement with the employer; this could be through work experience, shadowing, virtual tours, Q&A with the employer, presentation from the employer showing what they offer as a business.
3. Guaranteed job interview and interview training; providing participants with valuable interview experience and allows the business to select the most appropriate candidate for the apprenticeship opportunity.