Influencing and Informing: Supported Shared Apprenticeships in South Wales

In 2021, we worked with the Welsh Government to launch a Supported Apprenticeship pilot. The program included job coaching to help people with learning disabilities and/or autism take part.

Job coach support for potential apprentices was delivered by Engage to Change through their supported employment delivery partners, Agoriad Cyf and Elite in 7 areas of Wales. The success of this pilot led to a
Supported Shared Apprenticeship programme being developed. This paper explores the experience of delivering job coach support to people with a learning disability and/or autism taking part in 2 models of
inclusive apprenticeship programmes commissioned by Welsh Government. The models being a Supported Apprenticeship and a Supported Shared Apprenticeship. In particular it concerns people supported by ELITE Supported Employment Agency working in partnership with training providers Cardiff and Vale College and Cambrian Training.

These models aim to address the employment challenges faced by people with a learning disability and/or autism by combining on-the-job training with tailored support services. These actions align with broader efforts under the Welsh Government’s Employability and Skills Plans, which focus on improving disabled people’s access to employment and apprenticeships.

What Are Supported and Supported Shared Apprenticeships?

Supported Apprenticeships combine work-based learning and job coaching to enable young people with learning disabilities and/or autism to gain qualifications and workplace experience at the same time.
Supported Shared Apprenticeships also provide this, but involve the supported employment agency acting as the apprentice’s employer, with apprentices working across multiple hosts, increasing flexibility and job
exposure.

Both these programs promote inclusive employment and align with the Welsh Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee. This paper describes the programmes, highlights success factors, challenges and makes recommendations based on the experiences of ELITE supported employment.

English Report: Report

Welsh Report: Report