NI Traineeships help you gain experience and get a qualification to take the next step into employment or further study.
The NI Traineeship programme provides a high-quality vocational education and training programme at level 2 and is aimed at school leavers or adults who aspire to work within a specific sector. These programmes provide the skills and qualifications necessary to secure employment in a chosen occupation or to allow you to progress to a level 3 apprenticeship or level 3 further education course.
The NI Traineeship programme comprises of:
A main professional and technical qualification in a chosen occupational area.
Practical skills development.
Transversal skills e.g. problem solving or teamwork.
Work placement.
Literacy and numeracy qualifications at level 2 (Essentials Skills or GCSE).
Additional qualifications suitable to your chosen sector e.g. Health and safety, CSR or manual handling.
The majority of NI Traineeships will typically take up to two years to complete on a full-time basis. For those starting in September 2023, we have introduced new one year full-time Traineeships in the areas of information technology, hairdressing, children’s care, learning and development, health and social care and hospitality and tourism.
Applicants will be required to hold a minimum of a level 1 qualification which is defined as 4 GCSEs at grades D-G including maths and English grades D-F or equivalent. Enhanced entry grades for maths and English apply in certain subject areas. These will be discussed with the applicant after an application has been made.
The College will review the qualifications and/or experience held by applicants and will consider whether this profile shows an ability to progress towards a level 2 traineeship framework.
On successful completion of the full NI Traineeship, you will receive a Traineeship diploma equivalent to five GCSEs at grades A*-C (including English and maths qualifications at level 2). You may wish to progress within Southern Regional College to a level 3 further education course or a level 3 apprenticeship, possibly with your work placement employer. This can in turn lead you to higher education options.
Trainees who do not achieve all of the components will be recognised for partial achievement. This may mean you pass the professional and technical qualification but not the level 2 communication or level 2 numeracy elements. Trainees who have partial achievement may still be able to progress to further education courses at level 3.
