Paragon skills for industry

What is the purpose of First Steps?

To help you achieve personal targets and goals with the aim of:

• Becoming employed or
• Becoming employed with training (e.g. an Apprenticeship) or
• Going into Further Education.

What types of things will I be doing?

The programme looks at your individual needs, it is tailored to suit you, but the objectives are:

• To develop your basic and/or Key Skills
• To develop your personal effectiveness
• To help you gain vocational knowledge, skills or understanding.

So typical activities could include:

• Budgeting
• Improving your use of numbers
• Improving your use of words and communication
• Problem solving
• Outdoor challenges
• Skills for living on your own
• Sport linked activities
• Work and job tasters

How long will it take?

As your training plan is created especially for you, the length of time you will be with us will depend on your need. It could be for 12 or 30 weeks but the average is about 22 weeks.

You attendance will vary between 16 and 30 hours per week, but this will depend on your learning capacity, needs and progression choices.

Who can do it?

Anyone aged 16-18 who is living in England and not already undertaking any form of post 16 training who has not yet achieved qualifications at Level 2.

Applicants will undergo an initial assessment and will be accepted on to the programme if it is an appropriate option that will enable them to progress to an Apprenticeship, further learning or to a job.

Will I get any qualifications?

It’s not all about qualifications, but you will have opportunities to take some that are appropriate to your personal goals and ambitions. You will work towards:

• A nationally recognised leaver’s certificate
• Basic skills or Key Skills at Entry or Level 1
• Units towards an NVQ if you have made a vocational choice.

Are there any other benefits from being on the First Steps programme?

Those young people who go onto an Apprenticeship have the added advantage of being able to start working towards their NVQ units, Key Skills and Technical Certificates whilst settling into their placements.

What happens when I have finished the programme?

When you are ready you can go on to an Apprenticeship or other full time training, or you can move directly into employment if you want to.

If you choose to start work we will be there to support you for the first 8 weeks, so you won’t have to do it alone.

How do I get started?

You can contact your Connexions Adviser and ask them about Paragon’s First Steps programme, or you can:

Call us on Freephone 0800 7832545 to arrange for an informal chat with a member of our team or email enquiries@pgon.co.uk

You can also submit our online enquiry form

Further information is also available on: www.connexions-bdp.co.uk or www.connexions-direct.com

Why not contact us for more information:

Freephone 0800 783 2545

Email enquiries@pgon.co.uk

Submit our online enquiry form