India is moving fast towards innovation and will raise the number of apprentices from 14 lakhs in 2022 to 50 lakhs in upcoming years. The goal is high and demands work that companies and government work together to achieve it. Moreover, the key to achieving this goal is the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). Companies can participate in it as the best third-party aggregators (TPAs) in India and make it a popular concept in their company as an internship. Companies can help young individuals by providing them with practical skills and real-world experience. It helps bridge the gap between the theoretical and practical knowledge of candidates. However, for the government, it isn’t easy to manage the NATS program alone. That’s where TPAs come into the light. Companies working as TPAs are pivotal for streamlining the NATS process and ensuring that apprentices and employers benefit from this program. This blog gives you an idea of what NATS is, how it works, and the role of TPAs.
Understanding the NATS
NATS stands for National Apprenticeship Training Scheme, as we already explained. This was initiated by the Indian government in 2006 to provide training to college students and make them job-ready. NATS is for students who have degrees or diplomas in technical fields. Under this program, candidates work with companies and learn new skills that help them work in the competitive landscape. Apprenticeship training assesses candidates' learning industry training that makes them work effectively and achieve a bright future.
The Role of TPAs in NATS
Yes, NATS is a great program, but it needs the wholehearted participation of third-party aggregators (TPAs). Companies working as TPAs assess and manage many components of apprenticeship training. These agencies make the process easy for candidates and employees by managing administrative tasks, including:
Candidates Registration: These companies help apprentices enroll in the program and manage all the paperwork.
Manage Compliance: TPAs also help ensure that employers and participants follow all government rules and regulations.
Effectively Track Progress: Agencies also assess and track apprentices' performance and provide reports to the authority to make sure everything is on track.
TPAs play different roles in the apprenticeship process to make it smoother and more efficient.
How TPAs Participate in NATS
TPAs participate in NATS and help it improve in many ways:
Simplify the Registration Process: For many small businesses, it is challenging to sign up for NATS. The agencies working as TPAs help in the registration process easily. Professionals from these agencies ensure that all required documents are submitted and easily focus on training rather than paperwork.
Ensuring Compliance: These companies ensure that the apprenticeship program follows all the government rules. TPA experts help meet all legal needs and maintain a high standard of apprentice training.
Monitoring Progress: They also participate in monitoring how well candidates are doing during their training. Participants can easily track their progress, create reports for the government, and offer support where needed to ensure the program is running smoothly.
Offering Training and Assessment Support: These credible partners sometimes work with training providers to provide practical and theoretical lessons for apprentices. TPAs also assess and organize assessments to make sure candidates are getting the right skills for their future careers.
Advantages of NATS for Companies and Apprentices
The NATS program provides several benefits to employers and apprentices; some of these are:
For Companies:
- Skilled Employees: Companies get access to trained, well-trained apprentices who participate in crucial roles. They can engage apprentices for 12-24 months, depending on their qualifications.
- Financial Benefits: The government also provides subsidies to companies that participate in NATS. They can save RS 3500-4000/- monthly on ESI, PF, and Bonuses to apprentices as they don’t come under labor laws.
- Reduced Recruiting Costs: Participating candidates work for the company while training, decreasing the requirement to recruit experienced professionals and saving money.
For Apprentices:
- Provide Real-World Experience: With the help of NATS, candidates who have passed during 2019 - 2024 are eligible for practical training, which helps them stand out when looking for jobs.
- Exposure to Industry: Apprentices get a chance to work with trained professionals and learn about industry standards and practices. They also get half of the allowance, up to a maximum of Rs. 4,500/m for Graduate Apprentices and Rs. 4000/m for Diploma Apprentices for 1 year through NATS.
- Job-Ready Skills: By taking apprenticeship training, candidates are equipped with the experience they require to succeed in the job market.
How TPAs are Making a Difference
Different industries participate in NATS and work as effective TPA service providers; some of these are:
Manufacturing: TPAs in the manufacturing sector help small businesses train apprentices in new technologies and improve overall efficiency.
Information Technology: TPAs in information technology ensure that participants are getting the most in-demand skills, like coding and software development. Nowadays, many IT firms help employ apprentices from NATS.
Healthcare: In the healthcare sector, TPA participates in training apprentices in areas like medical technology and patient care, fulfilling the skill shortage in this competitive landscape.
Conclusion
The government initiative NATS helps transform skills development in India. It assesses building a workforce with the help of TPAs (which play a crucial role in ensuring that everything is processed smoothly). The scheme aims to combine theoretical training with practical experience. TPAs participate in everything and make the NATS process easy for both apprentices and employers by simplifying the registration to the tracking process. For companies and apprentices, it is crucial to choose the best TPA services provider in India. If you are searching, you can contact Vision India Services Pvt. Ltd., a credible third-party agency (TPA). The participation of TPAs poised NATS to become an even more effective tool for skill employment and development in India.