APPRENTICESHIP SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYERS

Employer Apprenticeship Support in England

Smaller Firms
John Hayes, Skills Minister, recently received a Report from the Learning and Skills Improvement Service and the Employer Reference Group on simplifying the processes faced by large employers taking on apprentices. The Report recommended simplifying these processes for larger employers.

But there are still too many problems for small employers taking on apprentices. The Government’s new offer so smaller employers with less the 50 employees is a start. This seeks to:

  • To encourage small firms with less than 50 employees that don’t currently hire apprentices to take on a young apprentice aged 16 to 24. The Government will offer an incentive payment of up to £1,500.
  • This will support up to 20,000 new apprenticeships in 2012/13. An initial payment will be made two months after the individual has started their apprenticeship. The balance is paid after the apprenticeship has been completed and the trainee progressed into sustainable employment.
  • Processes will be simplified to make it quicker and easier for employers to take on an apprentice. The National Apprenticeships Service and training providers will be required to ensure that every employer is in a position to advertise a vacancy within one month of deciding to take on an apprentice. Health and safety requirements will be streamlined so that there are no additional demands on employers that already meet national standards.
  • There will be a renewed focus on younger adults, new employees, higher level qualifications and particular sectors where they can make the greatest impact.

Though this is welcome, there are still difficulties for smaller firms in overcoming the labyrinth of procedures involved. Huckfield will be writing further on how colleges and training providers can help smaller employers to overcome these.

Higher Apprenticeships in England

The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on Tuesday 29 November 2011 included £17mn for 19 apprenticeship partnerships of employers and training providers, following a competitive bidding process in July 2011 as part of a £25m fund for Higher Apprenticeships.  A further £1.7m has been invested in 2 new ‘Trailblazer’ projects in information technology and science, engineering and manufacturing, delivering 6,000 Higher Apprenticeships.

Though the Higher Apprenticeship Fund supports thousands of apprenticeships up to degree equivalent, most of the 250 employers are larger companies, including Leyland Trucks, Unilever, TNT, and Burberry.

So the Government is providing an additional £30mn for 20,000 places – a £1500 incentive for smaller firms to take on young apprentices, bringing the total number of payments available to 40,000 next year.

There will be a further round of bidding in Spring 2012 for Higher Apprenticeship places.

Employer Apprenticeship Support in Scotland

Individual Learning Accounts

Individual Learning Accounts represent a Scottish Government scheme offering up to £200 annually per annum towards the cost of a learning programme. The offer is available to all residents in Scotland who are over 16 years and have an income up to £22,000 a year.

  • Individual Learning Accounts ILA 200: £200 for courses such as SVQs and IT skills
  • Individual Learning Accounts ILA 500: £500 for part time qualifications at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels 7,8,9,10 and 11. These include a part-time higher education or professional qualification course such as a Higher National Certificate.  This is delivered through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland

This scheme can be utilised to assist individuals to gain additional skills and qualifications to gain and sustain employment.

Get Ready for Work

Get Ready for Work (GRfW) is a National Programme to upskill, develop and support young people who may not be ready or able to access a Modern Apprenticeship or further education and want to access sustainable employment or further education. This is delivered by a range of Colleges, local authorities and providers across Scotland.

The programme is available to 16-18 year olds and lasts for six months. Trainees receive a weekly training allowance and expenses

GRfW comprises training and work placements with employer partners. During work placement trainees will receive “on the job” training and development to further enhance employment prospects and gain sustainable employment. Typical College providers include Forth Valley College, Kilmarnock College and Motherwell College.

Training for Work 

Training for Work offers vocational training to anyone over the age of 18 who has been continuously unemployed for 13 weeks. Some are able to enter the programme immediately.

Following referral from JobCentre Plus, Training for Work provides skills in response to an industry’s specific needs. Training can be tailored to meet the needs of local employers, which offers a better chance of getting a job. City of Edinburgh Council is a typical provider.

Modern Apprenticeships

Modern  Apprenticeships offer anyone between the age of 16 – 19 paid employment combined with an opportunity to train for jobs at craft, technician and management levels.  This offers a way to gain skills and qualifications to start a career without having to study full time across a wide range of industries. MAs offer:

  • The occupational SVQ for the sector
  • Core Skills – skills to become a more flexible employee, able to adapt to constantly changing work Situations.  These skills are known as Core Skills and are:
  1. Communication
  2. Working With Others
  3. Numeracy
  4. Information Technology
  5. Problem Solving.

Modern Apprenticeships and their Frameworks are managed by the Modern Apprenticeships Group at Skills Development Scotland. Funding depends on age, SVQ Level and sector and may vary from just over £1000 to over £6000.  These payments assume provision of a contribution for the Apprenticeship Framework and Awarding Organisation.  There is a range of College examples from Ayr to Oatridge.

The following two schemes are aimed at maintaining an employed status for apprentices,

Employer Recruitment Incentive

The Employer Recruitment Incentive offers businesses an incentive of up to £2000 when recruiting a Modern Apprentice or employee.

  • 16 to 19 year old who is recruited or has progressed to a Modern Apprenticeship from Wednesday 21 December 2011
  • Individuals aged 20 and more than 3 months unemployed starting a Modern Apprenticeship from Wednesday 21 December 2011
  • Also available for 16-19 year olds within 26b weeks of having completed Get Ready for Work and  TPA and for those leaving Training for Work entering employment.

Adopt an Apprentice

Adopt an Apprentice Modern Apprentices continue with their training in a new workplace. The scheme gives a financial incentive to employers who take on an apprentice who has been made redundant.

“The preferred option is to secure employment with an alternative employer to allow the apprentice to complete their training. Once a Training Provider has been made aware (either from the apprentice or the relevant employer) that an apprentice is being, or has been, made redundant because of the economic downturn, the Training Provider should take all steps to secure alternative employment either through their own contacts or by working with the relevant Sector Skills Council”.