Sponsored Trainees

The University is a major provider of employment locally. It is important that we fulfil our obligation to the whole community in which we operate. We are keen to extend training opportunities to those not in employment to assist in improving their long term employability and do so by participating in Government and charitable orgainisation sponsored schemes e.g. Skillseeker, Training for Work, short term work experience in conjunction with local organisations such as Dundee College, the Claverhouse Group and local schools.

Whilst the opportunities offered to trainees through these schemes must be both, realistic and beneficial to the Trainee, as they will include practical work experience, it is not an alternative to employing a qualified member of staff. Care should be taken to avoid any impression that a trainee is filling an established post.

Points to Note :

At the outset there should be written agreement between the Trainee's organisation and the University of :
1. Financial arrangements e.g. no financial commitment or £40 per week to be invoiced by the trainee's organisation.
2. Insurance and Liability e.g. Trainee's organisation must provide adequate Insurance and Liability cover and the University's insurance should also be checked by the Trainee's organisation to ensure it meets their requirements.
3. Health & Safety e.g. the normal workplace health and safety rules must be made available to the Trainee's organisation and checked by them to ensure it meets their requirements and that the Trainee can comply.
4. Equal Opportunities - no unlawful act of discrimination should be committed against the Trainee either in choosing whom to take as a Trainee or while they are undergoing training.
It should be agreed between the Training organisation, Trainee and the University Placement Provider, the level and range of work that the Trainee will undertake and that this is within the normal scope of training provided by organisations. Any significant changes to the level and range should be discussed and agreed by these three bodies.

Although many of these tasks will be ones carried out as part of the normal work of the department/school, there is an expectation that the Trainee will be given the opportunity to learn a wide range of skills, which may include giving the Trainee a series of tasks to carry out which are not required in that particular placement area, although they may be in a similar area e.g. experience of audio typing where this is not a usual feature of the office.
It is an expectation that the Trainee's organisation will monitor the Trainee on a regular basis and provide adequate opportunity for feedback both by the Trainee and the University.
The University Placement Provider must also ensure that the Trainee is given adequate supervision and instruction, as well as adequate resources to carry out tasks (e.g. desk, chair, and the use of a PC).
If there is any reason why the placement cannot be carried out as originally agreed e.g. level of work, period of placement this must be discussed by the University Placement Provider with the Trainee's Organisation before the Trainee's placement is terminated.