Skills for justice - developing skills for safer communities

Apprenticeships are an outstanding way to create the skilled workforce that employers need now and for the future, according to leading sector skills organisation Skills for Justice.

The organisation, which works with employers to develop skills across the justice, community safety and legal service sectors, is encouraging employers to take on apprentices as a way to create an eager, motivated, flexible and loyal workforce with skills designed around the needs of businesses.

Nick Skeet, Key Account Director at Skills for Justice, gave a special presentation at Building a Workforce for your Future, an event organised by Alliance 4 the Black Country and Black Country Chamber of Commerce.

The event, organised as part of Apprenticeship Week, aimed to promote the benefits of apprenticeships to businesses and to encourage employers to take on apprentices.

Employers across the country have already seen the benefits that apprentices can bring them.  Findings by the National Apprenticeship Service include:

·         77% of employers believe apprenticeships make them more competitive;

·         76% say that apprenticeships provide higher overall productivity;

·         80% feel that apprenticeships reduce staff turnover;

·         83% of employers rely on their apprenticeships programme to provide the skilled workers that they need for the future;

Professionals at the event also heard how Skills for Justice is working closely with employers and stakeholders across the industry to build a recognised apprenticeship framework for paralegals.

Nick said: “By creating recognised paralegal apprenticeship pathways we can ensure the same opportunities are open for everyone. It will assist the profession in opening up access to employment in legal services and provide the benchmark of quality that employers and their clients look for.”

Once created, this framework will have the potential to attract Government funding to cover the necessary training, especially for young people.

Top law firms including Gordons, Eversheds, Kennedys and DWF have already pledged their support for a paralegal apprenticeship framework and are involved in developing the National Occupational Standards, which will form the basis of the framework. 

The framework is expected to be ready for paralegals working in public prosecution by April 2012 with pathways for the commercial sector to be available by summer 2013.

To find out more about how Skills for Justice helps employers, visit www.skillsforjustice.com

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For more information, please visit www.skillsforjustice.com or contact Ruth Peterson, PR and Communications Officer, on 0114 261 5805 or email ruth.peterson@skillsforjustice.com.

Notes to editors

• Skills for Justice is the Sector Skills Council for Justice, Community Safety and Legal Services.

• Skills for Justice is employer-led and works to ensure that organisations in the Justice, Community Safety and Legal Services sectors have employees with the necessary skills to be productive, efficient and effective. We provide benefits and value for our employers through high quality products and services that meet their needs. 
  
  Skills for Justice operates across the UK, with offices in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, working with a variety of employers in Custodial Care, Policing and Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, Offender Management, Courts, Tribunals and Prosecution, Forensic Science, Victim, Survivor and Witness Support and the Children's Workforce.  Employers can benefit from our expertise by becoming members.