Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) are receiving an injection of government funding and focus. Our off-the-shelf SWAP sector packages support providers in meeting the demand for helping newly unemployed learners return to work or into self-employment.
What are Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs)?
Sector-based Work Academy Programmes are designed to help improve the job prospects of unemployed learners and help employers fill vacancies where there is local demand. SWAPs are short, sharp programmes lasting up to 6 weeks and have three main components:
- pre-employment training
- work experience placement
- a guaranteed job interview
The pre-employment training element is funded through Adult Skills Fund (ASF) local flexibility and usually lasts 2-3 weeks. Gateway Qualifications has put together a range of off-the-shelf packages to meet the needs of providers delivering this training in the most in-demand sectors.
Off-the-shelf SWAP Sector Packages
The off-the-shelf packages focus on areas with the greatest number of referrals from Jobcentre Plus, and sectors will be added to meet the needs as the situation continues to develop. We are also seeing an increase in people moving into self-employment, so we have added a package for Centres to use in support of budding entrepreneurs.
Resources to support delivery
A free set of resources accompanies each of our off-the-shelf sector packages to support your teaching and delivery. They can be used alongside any other published or self-created resources.
Each set contains:
- Teacher Delivery Guide – A guide to help teachers deliver units in different ways, with activities that suit all learners.
- Learner Pack – Includes activity guidance, assessment tasks and checklists to help learners track their progress.
- Teacher Resource PowerPoint – Ready-to-use presentations with videos, activities and teaching notes.
These resources are available free of charge to Centres approved for SWAPs with Gateway Qualifications. They can be downloaded from our Prism system and can be found on the “Documents” tab of the relevant qualification.
To help you get a flavour for what’s included in the teaching resource packs, we have made the complete set of resources for the Level 2 Award in Employability Skills available to download for everyone.
Claim your free sample set of Employability Skills resources here