The DfE launched a new support service on 1 August to help apprentices who have been made redundant, or who are at risk of redundancy, due to the COVID-19 outbreak to find new opportunities. The Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices (ReSSA) offers an online and telephone service to provide advice and guidance to individuals on the impact of redundancy, their options and next steps. The service is made up of three main elements: providing apprentices with advice and guidance on the impact of redundancy; signposting apprentices to local and national support services; and an apprenticeship vacancy sharing service to make redundant apprentices aware of new opportunities. Any apprentice who has been made redundant, or is at risk of redundancy, and would like to register for the ReSSA can find further information on the link above, and call 08000 150 400 to speak to an adviser.
Employers who have apprenticeship opportunities to offer to redundant apprentices can also sign up for a new service to advertise their vacancies. The first wave of vacancies will be shared with redundant apprentices on 17 August, so any currently redundant apprentices should register as soon as possible to be included in the first wave. Employers also need to log opportunities by 12 August to be included in the first set of vacancies. New vacancies will then be shared every 2 weeks. The new employer incentives for hiring apprentices between 1 August and 31 January 2021, will apply to hiring redundant apprentices; further details are in the Apprenticeship funding rules and guidance for employers.