People with a criminal conviction face several barriers on release from prison, with access to employment and education being at the forefront. Not only are many ex-offenders often unprepared for employment on release in terms of their skills and training, but there remains a stigma among some employers about hiring people with a criminal conviction. With reoffending costing the UK billions each year, more must be done to improve employment opportunities for ex-offenders to reduce the number of prison leavers that reoffend.
Learning and Work Institute (L&W) has been commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to explore the effectiveness of funding to support apprentices with a learning difficulty or disability (LDD) and/or apprentices from a disadvantaged background.
The Work and Health Programme is an employment support programme which was launched in North West England and Wales in November 2017. The programme will roll out across the rest of England during early 2018. It will provide specialised employment support for people with disabilities and long-term unemployed people.
The Programme provides support to help people find and keep a job. It is available, on a voluntary basis, to those with health conditions or disabilities, and to various groups of vulnerable people.
This House of Commons Library briefing summarises the key statistics available on disabled people in employment in the UK.
Headline Figures
There were 3.5 million people of working age (16-64) with disabilities in employment between April and June 2017, an employment rate of 49.2%. The employment rate for people without disabilities was 80.6%.
The Department for Education has published a research report that evaluates the Traineeships programme.
The evaluation explored the views and experiences of:
Year Two Survey of Trainees: 2,153 trainees who commenced a traineeship programme between August 2014 and July 2015.
Trainee’s Follow Up Survey: 416 trainees who were interviewed as part of the Year One evaluation programme and then interviewed again between 18-30 months after the traineeship (December 2015 and January 2016).
The Department for Education has made changes to the regular minimum English and maths requirements needed to complete an apprenticeship for people with a learning difficulty or disability who have, or previously had, an Education, Health and Care plan, a Statement of Special Educational Needs or a Learning Difficulty Assessment. These changes will allow more people to access apprenticeships. A short guidance document explaining the changes is attached.
The Department for Education has issued revised guidance about study programmes. This guide sets out the government’s policy on 16 to 19 study programmes. It covers academic, technical and vocational study programmes, including traineeships and supported internships.
It applies to all providers of 16 to 19 education in England, including: