FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions from employers about the work of Opportunities Plus.

What is the procedure for paying Apprentices who are linked with Training Providers funded by the Learning + Skills Council?

If a young person is in a waged full-time Apprenticeship, by law the minimum allowance payable is £80 per week for the first year.

If a young person is in a non-waged training programme/Apprenticeship, by law the minimum allowance payable is £40 per week.

From April, all non-employed Apprenticeships will be paid Education Maintenance Allowances (currently £30 per week means tested). Parents will also be able to continue with Child Benefit.

I have never taken a young person before and am not sure what qualifications they actually take in school now.

Connexions Norfolk staff will be happy to discuss this with you. Click Vacancy Contacts to find out how to contact Opportunities Plus to ask your question.

Is there anything I can do to build links with local schools?

• Mentoring: Adults can subscribe to be trained as Mentors and work closely with students as a means of support and encouragement.
• Work Shadowing: A student can "shadow" a person in the workplace rather than having set tasks to perform.
• Extended Placements: These can be linked to curriculum study (e.g. catering or engineering). Placements may be arranged in various ways, such as 1 hour per week or half a day per week, and there will probably be a particular focus or project that the student has to complete.
• Industry Days: Consist of employers giving a day of their time to work with students in school on a pre-defined activity.
• Conventions: E.g. Careers Fairs; young people can explore a range of options by speaking to the employers direct.

• Find out what schools are in your area and get contact details for every school in Norfolk by clicking SchoolFinder.