Cambrian Training Company and partners run a Supported Shared Apprenticeship Programme that combines tailored learning plans, workplace coaching and shared placements to move people with disabilities and additional learning needs into sustained employment.
Supported Shared Apprenticeship Programme (SSAP) launched in 2022 by Cambrian Training Company with Agoriad Cyf and ELITE Training Services.
Programme pairs recognised apprenticeships with personalised support (Individual Learning Plans, one-to-one coaching, Additional Learning Needs specialists) and employer guidance on reasonable adjustments.
Shared placement model lets apprentices gain experience across multiple workplaces, widening skills and reducing employer risk.
Many people with disabilities and additional learning needs face barriers to sustainable employment and clear career pathways. Cambrian Training Company (CTC) designed a response: the Supported Shared Apprenticeship Programme (SSAP), created with partners Agoriad Cyf and ELITE Training Services and launched in 2022.
SSAP pairs standard apprenticeship training with a package of personalised supports intended to produce longer-term employment outcomes rather than one-off placements. Key elements include:
A distinctive feature is the shared placement model. Apprentices can work across different workplace settings rather than being tied to a single employer. That model aims to:
Case examples given in the reporting illustrate the mix of qualifications, supports and progression:
What this means for employers and policy
The SSAP model shows practical ways employers can access supported apprentices while receiving guidance on reasonable adjustments. Shared placements lower employer risk and widen the talent pipeline. The combination of formal qualifications, workplace coaching and ALN support produces tangible progression into employment for participants.
Next steps implied by the programme's reporting
Programme combines tailored learning plans, specialist support and a shared placement approach to move learners with disabilities and additional learning needs into sustained employment. Early results include 24 completed apprenticeships and multiple learner stories showing progression into stable roles and further qualifications.
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