Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Centre of Social Justice in Sport and Society
The project sought to explore the experiences of small employers supporting sports related apprenticeships for young people from marginalised backgrounds and / or those with additional learning needs across England.
The numbers of young people aged 16 – 25 not in employment, education or training are increasing and currently stand just short of one million. Apprenticeships offer one means of addressing this societal issue by offering an alternative route into both education and employment. Apprenticeships can enable young people to develop new skills, and provide industries with emerging talent. However, the numbers of apprentices starting level 2 and 3 apprenticeships is decreasing year on year.
Coach Core Foundation (CCF) is an employment and education charity at the forefront of sport coaching apprenticeships. Through sport, CCF work with young people who typically experience barriers, discrimination, and lack of opportunities to develop their talents and the skill sets needed for work and life more broadly. CCF works with a network of national and local employers. Together, they are able to support young people who in turn can creative positive impact in the communities in which they work through high quality inclusive sport and physical activity provision.
Through conversations with its employer partners, CCF were aware of significant challenges being experienced with apprenticeships. CCF recognised the need to move away from anecdotal evidence and more formally document these challenges.
Teaming up with researchers from the Centre for Social Justice in Sport and Society at Leeds Beckett University, CCF commissioned research to investigate: the challenges small employers face in recruiting and retaining apprentices; what enables small employers to overcome these challenges; and the resources needed to support those young people in under-represented groups and/or with additional learning needs. The research team conducted 31 interviews with a range of stakeholders including 24 staff from 16 employer organisations, three Learning Coaches and four CCF staff. The 16 participating employers were based throughout England, ensuring that experiences from the North East to the South West were captured.
By collating this clear evidence, CCF programmes and practices can be improved and CCF can advocate for changes to how apprenticeships are designed and run.
The key findings from this research have been presented at a Coach Core ‘Town Hall’ meeting which included its employer partners.
CCF have also received a full report and summary report outlining the key findings of the research in relation to key challenges being experienced, success enablers, and the considerations needed for particular groups of young people.
These findings and the resultant recommendations will be used by CCF to advocate for change with strategic decision makers, and enhance provision and practice with training organisations and employers.
The recommendations are clear: better pay, improved onboarding, transport and start-up support, and a more inclusive, collaborative approach across the sector can lead to long-term success for everyone involved.
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