Answer

EMSSE (East Midlands School for Social Entrepreneurs) is currently running a combined entrepreneurs and advisors 6 month programme, one of the first such programmes to be put into practice. Having successfully trialled this in Nottinghamshire, it will be delivering the same in Leicestershire, in association with Leicester CAN.

EMSSE is running a core SSE programmes starting from autumn 2007 onwards. Please contact them for further details, and application forms etc:

Fergus Brazel
East Midlands School for Social Entrepreneurs
Room 19
New Brook House
385 Alfreton Road
Nottingham
NG7 5LR

phone +44 (0)115 875 8828

Regarding apprenticeship schemes, there does not appear to be anything available at the moment unless it's run by RISE in the SE but it would be an opportunity for the voluntary sector to launch a funded placement scheme in the new year.
The courses run by EMSSE include working with social enterprises in a pre-startup, startup and ongoing sustainable status, so they are to be highly recommended. The course also leads to an accredited qualification as a social enterprise advisor or social enterprise leader (ie social entrepreneur). It is believed that these course will ultimately become "industry standard" for Business Links.

Other useful links:

School for Social Entrepreneurs:

http://www.sse.org.uk/school.php?schoolid=2

Social Enterprise Links on xPRESS: http://www.xpressdigest.org.uk/2007/11/15/new-generation-of-social-entrepreneurs-gear-up-to-inspire-the-nation/