Where to get the support you need

“When I first came to ELATT I was in a dark place. I didn’t realise that there was so much support available to me.”
Although taking up a new course can feel like a big step at first, as Martina suggests, there is support that you can help you get there. It can be a challenge to know where to look for the support you need so that you can take the next step in your education and career. We can help with that. In just one free meeting with our Student Support Coordinator, Janet, you can be guided to identify the various sources of help and support available to you so that you can focus on your development.

Whether you are looking for financial help with traveling to and from your classes with us, need child support, to work around your job Centre check-in times, or if you just need some advice on which course to study, we are here to listen and point out some of the options you have that enable you to start studying.

Call Janet for advice!

Just call and set a personal meeting to talk to Janet about your options and you’re on your way to taking your next step.

Mentoring

“I wasn’t able to see the skills I had, and through ELATT's support I feel more confident and my future is so much brighter.”
Martina’s study experience with us reflects how a personal difficulty can be turned around to build on your strengths with the right support. At ELATT, you do not only have the opportunity to gain educational qualifications to improve your employability. Our approachable staff, with their own diverse backgrounds and experiences, give you one-to-one mentoring to help you find what you need within the large pool of services offered by different organisations.

Ask Janet!

Martina’s advice as a student is to “talk to one of their advisors to get out of the negative place you may be in. The services can give you a wider knowledge of all the different resources, help and advice out there.”

Worrying about the level of English language, or whether you are eligible to study with us? Not sure if your qualifications allow you to study with us? Wondering how you will pay for your travel to your studies or day care for your children?

Call to set a free, one-to-one meeting with Janet, and she will gladly share some of the solutions that exist in your situation to empower you to take the next step in your career.

Call Janet for advice!

In-house Cyber Security could be the best decision you make this year.

Business Are Missing Security Breaches Every Day

Cyber Security is becoming increasingly important as more and more businesses collect increasing amounts of sensitive data about their customers and staff. The media has covered many high profile cyber-attacks in recent years highlighting the lack of corporate strategies for Cyber Security at all levels.

In addition, companies are being tasked to respond to the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) that will be coming into effect in May 2018, which will allow fines of up to 4% annual turnover, if a company is found to not have sufficient active information security risk and contingency plans in place to protect their personal data.

Within this context, Cyber Security skills, which allow companies to put in place fit for purpose and value for money security processes, have become more in demand. Even specialist companies are struggling to keep abreast with the growing Cyber Security skill demand, meaning that salaries for people skilled in Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) rise as the shortage continues.

Should Cyber Security Be Completed In-House or Outsourced?

There’s no question that Cyber Security professionals are sought after. But are we better off hiring and training our own talent or is it more efficient to contract out? Obviously there are pros and cons to each approach, here we consider these in more detail:

Basic Security Knowledge is Lacking Amongst Many Employees
Firstly, every task that an employee completes, as soon as they are on the company system or are handed a laptop or mobile phone, can cause a breach in security. The growing risk of attacks is not new, yet still employees lack even the most basic knowledge of how to prevent attacks and what to do when one occurs. In order to work within the new regulations, many companies will have to start by going back to the basics, the core, to HR and the methods by which staff work.

By bringing your Cyber Security in-house, with a strategy carried out by your own IT team, who are trained to your company’s specific needs, reporting to senior management on a regular basis, you are in a better position to embed a safe Cyber Security structure and culture into the working life of your company.

Companies Are Breaching Their Own Security Without Realising
Secondly, outsourcing many different company functions such as HR or finance, as well as freelancers who work within core teams is becoming increasingly popular. This means that companies are passing sensitive data on to third parties and therefore causing a breach of security that possibly no-one within the company is aware of.

An in-house Cyber Security team or member of staff who is integral to the company and who knows your company inside out is more likely to pick-up on this potential risk rather than an external provider who is not part of your team and does not have day-to-day communication with different departments. Again, this is crucial for not just GDPR compliance but also to protect your company from external cyber-attacks.

Cyber Security Is Not a One-Off Task
Outsourcing can prove to be a cost-effective solution in situations where companies need a specific skillset in order to overcome particular problems or carry out certain tasks. External companies command a much higher hourly rate than an in-house member of staff, but if it is for a ‘one-off’ function then it is cheaper for that company to invest in one-off external help as opposed to investing in a range of skills and software which they are unlikely to use again.

That said; Cyber Security now and in the future is not a ‘one-off’ and occasional task. Cyber Security strategies need to stand at the centre of a company. Senior managers and board members need to understand how Cyber Security sits within their company risk register and how it needs to be embedded into both existing and new products and services.

To do this, organisations need someone on the case who has all the knowledge of the company, who is trustworthy, affordable and available. An in-house member of staff who has all of the above plus a greater personal investment in the company is best placed to deliver this. Every company is unique of course and usually a sensible option is a combination of both.

How ELATT Can Help…

At ELATT, we can help to find you the ideal Apprentice in Cyber Security to ensure your business remains safe and secure when it matters most. For more information, Contact us today.

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Is the Apprenticeship Levy to Blame?

Since the government’s apprenticeship levy came into existence in April 2017, apprenticeship starts have dropped significantly, causing many to question whether the government no longer fully funding apprenticeships is the reason behind it. Change is often good, but in this case, statistics are saying otherwise.

It is possible the drop in apprenticeship starts could be a direct impact of the increased costs of the new scheme, or a result of the on-boarding process becoming more complex? Or is it simply that employers are focusing on quality apprenticeships now that it's their money that’s being spent? Perhaps businesses are simply taking the time to plan ahead, in which case, is this really a bad thing? 

Here we consider why the number of ‘apprenticeship starts’ are dropping and whether it’s a direct impact of the levy being implemented.

Why Have ‘Apprenticeship Starts’ Dropped?

There are always two sides to every story, and generally when figures show a significant drop, people jump to conclusions. So, for employers looking to implement training into their business, it’s essential to consider the possibilities of why this drop in apprenticeship starts has occurred and what happens next.

Looking closer at the stats – it shows that the drop in apprenticeship take up is coming from smaller firms i.e. those that are not paying the levy. For many smaller companies that used to take on apprenticeships – or those that were considering it – the extra cost has put them off, whilst for larger firms who are paying the levy, they are at least maintaining apprenticeship numbers.

Will the Levy Work for Businesses Eventually?

Critics say employers are being deterred from creating apprenticeship posts because of the increased costs and complexity of the new scheme. After all, the government’s target to raise £3 billion a year to create three million apprenticeships by 2020 is still a long way off, proving that the apprenticeship levy isn’t working for businesses yet.

Perhaps Employers Just Need Time to Adjust?

The last year has been a period of significant change, and for employers to adjust, time and patience is required. Many are questioning that the system is in need of a further reform, but some say there are signs that things are turning around as the apprenticeship levy settles in, it’s just been a matter of needing time to adjust.

Many Firms Are Simply Planning Ahead

The growth from the larger levy paying companies has plateaued, which is disappointing i.e. those that already engaged with apprenticeships have continued to do so, whilst those who the government have wanted to lure into the programme, are taking their time to consider their options. Indicating that employers are simply focusing on quality apprenticeships now that it's their money at stake, and require that little more time to plan their next move.

After all, there is a lot to consider. For some companies who tend to recruit from a pool of experienced and ready skilled people, it will mean changing their entire HR process. Decisions need to be made only when workforce gaps appear. This is not something that happens overnight.

Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Anne Milton says; “It is right that they are taking their time to plan ahead, with two years to spend their levy funds, and maximise the opportunities an apprenticeship can bring for both the learner and employer. Feedback we’ve had shows employers are doing exactly that.”

The Quality of Apprenticeships Should Take Priority

It’s important not to disregard the reasons why the government initially introduced the reforms and levy in the first place; to enhance the quality of apprenticeships and to enable employers better access and control. Let’s also not forget that for businesses expected to pay the levy, i.e., the ones with a wage bill of over £3 million pa, employers can expect to get their money back, plus some, if they commit to training apprenticeships.

There is a strong argument for the government to abandon the starts target and maintain a focus on outcomes and the capability to deliver what learners need today – ie the support they need to undertake training within the work place and the curriculum that will help them develop their career and secure a job.

So, What Happens Now?

Now is the ideal opportunity for employers to fully focus on gaining the access, quality, and control they require to get the skills their business needs. As Anne Milton described, there is a two year window to spend the levy fund, BUT businesses ought to spend their money now because payment on the apprenticeship is collected monthly, not in one go. 

This means for businesses that wait to spend their levy funds, they’re likely to lose out, particularly if they wait for month 24 before spending it. In which case, the figures should really start to grow in the coming months.

Finally, some apprenticeships in certain areas are showing growth. For instance the new Digital Apprenticeship Standards are high quality, and as a result, are proving to be very popular – which indicates that employers want to buy into apprenticeships where they see exceptional added value and a curriculum that fits their workforce skills gaps.

Get in Touch

If you’d like to explore the new Digital Apprenticeships Standards, take a look at our Digital Courses, or Contact Us today for more information.

Enquire NowDigital Courses

How many of your IT department are female?

Are You Struggling to Recruit the Right People for Specialist Digital Roles?

Recent research has pointed to a growing skills crisis throughout the UK’s digital industries; there simply are not enough people with the right skills. Craig Hurring, CEO of Tech Partnership (an employer-led organisation that oversees the skills in the digital sector) reported that the UK needs 138,000 new entrants each year to fill all the specialist digital roles in the UK.

Traditionally, tech firms often recruit from a pool of Computer Science graduates, but according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the UK had only 16,440 Computer Science graduates last year, leaving a shortfall of over 120,000 per annum. As a result, it’s not surprising that 52% of UK tech companies are now reporting hard-to-fill vacancies.

Since only 17% of digital specialist roles are occupied by women, many tech companies who need new young talent are exploring how to double the pool of potential entrants by attracting both women and men to their companies, thus bringing better workforce diversity and improving productivity. One of the key issues is that only 16% of Computer Science graduates are young women.

How Can Businesses Help to Support Women into IT Roles?

In order to close the gender gap and get more talent in to the UK Tech industry, the most obvious solution is to try to persuade more young people, particularly young women to take up a Computer Science degrees. In fact, many forward thinking IT companies are involved in initiatives such as Girls only IT clubs and the ‘People Like Me’ WISE Campaign that use gender specific words and strong role models to encourage girls to consider a future in IT. At this stage, it is all too early to measure the impact, since they are aimed at 14-16 year olds who still have a few years in education before choosing their degree.

Not only is it very difficult for companies involved in these initiatives to quantify a return on their efforts, but the impact can only be measured in at least 3 to 5 years’ time, when young women decide (or don’t decide) to take up a Computer Science degree. There are lots of reasons why young women are disinclined to graduate to Computer Science since these courses have the biggest gap between men and women of all subjects at degree level. As a result, young women are worried about being isolated, and therefore choose other subjects, so the gender gap remains.

Tech companies looking to increase women in to their workforce in 2018 and future years can only either recruit from the very small pool of Computer Science graduates, that may or may not grow in the coming years, or… they can think differently.

Can the New Digital Apprenticeships Resolve your Skill Gap Issues and Diversify your Workforce?

Apprenticeship Standards that have been designed by groups of employers under the banner of Tech Partnership, offer a fast track solution for companies wishing to improve workforce gender equality and increase the number of entrants and scope of talent.

ELATT have seen, year on year, that Digital Apprenticeships can be very attractive to female school leavers in a way that a Computer Science degree is not. Companies that offer Apprenticeships can talk directly to young women and men in words that are specific to both sexes, describing real career opportunities that young people can understand and relate to.

By recruiting non-graduates, leap frogging traditional pathways to the industry, and offering training that is specific to their needs, companies can promote themselves to a much larger pool of young women (as well as young men) and by doing so, can impact the numbers of women within their workforce immediately.

They can also benefit from everything that the Apprenticeship Scheme has to offer, such as keen young people within the company who are learning on the job (right up to Post Graduate level) and whose external training is tailored and fits exactly with the company’s needs.

How can ELATT help…

At ELATT, we believe that Digital Apprenticeships are a transformative opportunity for both individuals and for the companies that take them on, and we are not alone in thinking this. Plummeting Apprenticeship numbers following the levy introduction has been reported on a lot in the press, yet not surprisingly, Digital Apprenticeships are bucking the trend. This year, they constitute 14% of all Apprenticeships across England, compared to just 3% the year before.

If you’d like to find out more about Digital Apprenticeships that are currently available, take a look at our Digital Apprenticeships Programme on offer please contact us at ELATT today.

Enquire NowVisit our Apprenticeships page

ELATT, East London’s only Grade 1 FE provider, welcomed the Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships, Rt Hon Anne Milton MP, to their newly-renovated Hackney learning centre today. In her first formal engagement since last week’s reshuffle, the Minister met ELATT staff and students studying a variety of career pathways.

Chief Executive, Anthony, who is also shortlisted for this year’s TES Awards FE Leader of the Year, said:

“We were delighted to welcome the Minister to ELATT to see staff and students in action, and to discuss the importance of our work supporting adult returners and young people who have benefited from the 1:1 support and personal touch we offer.
“It was a great for the Minister to hear first-hand from students about the challenges they face when entering or returning to FE, and our staff really appreciated the chance to convey their views in person to the Minister. It was a pleasure as a specialist provider to share our experiences with the Minister and offer insights into our day-to-day operations; from meeting individual needs to organisational planning processes.”

Pascale, an adult returner studying a Business Administration course, said:

“I was impressed that a minister would take time out of her busy schedule to visit a training centre like ELATT, she seemed genuinely interested in my journey, not least the difficulties of raising three disabled children whilst learning. ELATT plays a very important role in my community, and I hope they keep doing their good work training people like me and helping us re-enter the workforce with confidence after a long period out of work.”

 Janet Usoro, Student Support Coordinator, a former ELATT student, said:

“I enjoyed the Minister’s visit and it was great to hear her own history as a nurse in my community and experiences of working in Hackney. It was an opportunity to tell the Minister about how ELATT has helped me and students here. The 1:1 support I received inspired me to do the same for students and come back as a Student Support Coordinator.
“The Minister was very interested in my educational journey with ELATT and life as a single mother. In fact she gave me a very helpful tip about the media apprenticeship degree programme at the BBC, which I’ll definitely be looking up for my daughter. Discussing my journey face-to-face with the Minister, and the work I now do supporting students, was a brilliant way to the start the week!”

Skills Minister, Anne Milton said: 

“I was hugely impressed by what I saw at ELATT and to hear first-hand from students about how their lives have been turned round by the education they have received at ELATT.
“Regardless of your circumstances, it is never too late to unlock your potential through education and training. The students and dedicated staff I met at ELATT are a testament to that.  
“It is vital that we encourage more people to seize the opportunity to learn throughout their lives, which will help us to build the skilled workforce our economy needs.
“I was so impressed with the determination and passion of all the staff and learners. Well done to them all.”

Students from IT for ESOL 3506 class at ELATT got their creative powers flowing by writing some poetry.
Their poetry was inspired by the works of Maya Angelou. The world –renowned author, poet and civil rights activist.
Segs Fayase, their teacher, said: “It was so inspiring to see the students really get inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem, “Caged Bird”. They certainly understood the significance of it and then created their own interpretation. They combined creativity, literacy and ICT to produce amazing work”
We hope you enjoy the work that they produced.

Zalmay Rahimi
Our live much better like a free bird.
Because everything like freedom.
And any circumstance without freedom live will be miserable.
Freedom very sweet word every one like freedom.
For example the small bird doesn’t like to be inside the cage.
Even the cages golden.
So we like freedom and the bird like freedom.

Anne Khan
Dove of Peace.
If I were a white dove , I would love to fly to a warmer climate like Italy. I would join all the other doves, stay in a warm barn. Where we would get food and then have a flying completion
We would go and set all the different birds free from mallard to a kestrel or eagle.
We would then set all the other different types of animals free. Elephants, rhinoceros, kangaroos, hippopotamus, lions and tigers, zebras, monkeys, orangutan, silverback gorilla, koala bears etc.
There would be plenty of warm barns to sleep in plenty of food to eat we would all be a team .
We would all look after each other.
The world would be such a lovely place - still beautiful.

Michael Hill
A poem by William Blake
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare sieze the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye

Bolanle Ayekoti

These bird are in a tree singing songs.
They have a nest and food to eat.

We had our Capability workshop on Thursday 7th December 2017 at 10am-12pm at Simple Gifts, 117 Mansford St, Basement Suite, London E1 6LX.
We had the opportunity to try out some amazing experiences in activities. The activities included:

• Massaging Henna
• Guitar Playing
• Makeup
• Hair Styling
• Sewing
• Nail Art
• Mini Facials
• Language Exchange

That day we enjoyed all available activities .We think the workshop is a very good idea because some people have chance to practise and learn something different ,so for example we learn how to play guitar that was very interesting and finding out how to play on the guitar was very relaxing and also we find the Massaging was very popular so we think all people like to relax.

We learnt something new as well like henna. It was first time we have chance to see how it works.

We think that all activities was very important because all students get some new knowledge and have chance to learn new skills also that excellent time to practice English , speaking with people from the community, making friends and it was very nice to see all have chat and discuss about everything.

We are looking forward for next Capability Workshop.

By Magdalena, Anette and Shugui | E3 HACKNEY EQUAL VOICES 3508

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Two months ago on Friday 29 of September 2017 at 11 am we went to 242 Hoxton St N1. We went to a coffee morning in the church with our teacher. Because every slice of cake and cup of tea and coffee help us huge different of people facing cancer. There we met new people, we had a slice of cake some biscuits and tea then we are sitting together, talking to each other and there are some people taking pictures and making videos. We also take pictures we donated some money in the church. We really enjoyed the wonderful journey.

By Ruqia Naz, Francisca, Saloua and Preeti

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Today we are writing about housing problems in Hackney. Many people are suffering with some bad conditions. People are living in damp house, and they paying high rent, gas and electricity. Some houses have water leaking from the ceiling. People need to gather to campaign to the government so that they make something better about housing problems. Some people are living single glazing house in winter.

On 16/11/17 as Equal Voices class we wrote a letter about our housing problems we are facing in Hackney and we sent it to the council. We all together made a video, before we sent the letter. We sent the video and letter to Councillor Sem Moema

We are feeling better and proud after we sent the letter.
We hope that the council will start thinking about these problems and try to solve them and make good decisions.
Many thanks.

Shima, Sumi and Maria | 3508 Equal Voices

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I want to write about our volunteering visit to Museum of London on 12 /10/17. We walked with my classes 15 minutes to Mortimer Wheeler House. When we got to the Museum of London we met officials and they told us information about the museum. They started to show us around the museum.

We wore special gloves and labelled the objects and archived them. We also learnt about different objects from all over the world. We really enjoyed the experience.

Seher, Mahnaz, Besey, Rani and Ouasilla Equal Voices.

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