MITIE: The Real Apprentice

MITIE devised the Real Apprentice programme in October 2005 to meet a business need for local, sustainable recruitment and the communities’ need for sustainable employment.  Working with community partners, the Real Apprentice became a ‘best practice blueprint’ for employers wishing to contribute to the regeneration of their local communities.

MITIE understood that that there had to be a ‘try before you buy’ for both the recruiter and candidate to allow ‘real’ exposure of each other.

A training programme was developed to allow people a 12-week period to ‘sell’ themselves and allow them to understand what MITIE and its clients required.

The aim was to ensure those ultimately offered permanent employment would understand the commitment and responsibility involved in accepting an offer.  Equally, someone’s ability and potential would be shown without trying to do this in a formal interview scenario.

The Real Apprentice in the beginning

This scheme was the first of its type in London and showed the power of public and private sector businesses working in harmony to benefit the local community.

October 2005 saw the start of the pilot programme, with over 300 applications, which were screened and the best 80 candidates selected. They attended an open day at Cabot Hall, Canary Wharf, where they learnt about MITIE and the Real Apprentice scheme. The 20 best candidates were shortlisted and given the opportunity to visit some of MITIE’s client sites. After the site tours, MITIE conducted the final interviews, where the final ten ‘apprentices’ were selected.

Under the new pilot scheme, the ten ‘apprentices’, were guaranteed a job with MITIE, following the successful completion of an 11-week intensive reprographics training course.

To date 82 people have secured permanent full-time roles.  Others have returned to full-time education as a direct result of the scheme.

The Real Apprentice today

In August 2009 a new adaptation of the Real Apprentice commenced in partnership with JobCentrePlus (JCP) – London & City East and the London Employer Accord (LEA).  All participants were unemployed for a minimum of six months – some had never worked.  All had a disability including mental, physical and cognitive.  The difference was, participants would not only retain their full benefits but receive travel and clothing allowances.  JCP and LEA would bring other employers to the table.

Of the 16 who commenced the programme, 11 completed.  MITIE made four job offers and the remainder are now going forward to other employers with JCP with the added benefit of an employer’s reference, audit trail on performance and a lot more confidence.

The scheme is now run with one week spent off-site in a series of pre-placement workshops, seminars and presentations – team and individual. Those who pass this process are then interviewed again to match personality and site.  They are then placed on sites to join operational teams as additional headcount.

A site mentor and manager are identified to give guidance and support to apprentices. Halfway through the programme a Community Challenge is undertaken.

The Real Apprentice future

The partnership with JCP has proved inclusive, flexible and beneficial for all participants with no financial impact.

MITIE launched a part-time version of the programme in February 2010 – Raising the Game on Mental Health - in partnership with Working for Wellness and JCP.  The framework is the same but placements cover 16 hours per week for 16 weeks.    Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPTs) in Camden, Ealing and Southwark will be referring participants.

A provisional date of September 2010 has been set for a full-time programme in Glasgow in partnership with JCP and Glasgow Employer Coalition.  With plans for a further programme in Edinburgh in January 2011.

The Real Apprentice is recognised as an effective tool in moving the hardest to reach closer to employment.