Yesterday I got a new haircut. It had been a little while, but I was excited to share a photo with my friends as I always find people are interested in seeing what your hair looks like….
Stay with me… during my haircut, I was talking to my hairdresser about all sorts of things. We spoke about a number of things, but then she spoke about how her career had started as an apprentice, passionate to get into the profession and to spend time in a salon rather than learning through academia. The programme meant she was able to earn a wage immediately and the employer funded her learning. I was pleased to discover she was still with the same employer several years later, in a role that she enjoyed.
The above is a typical apprentice story, but apprenticeships can be this and so much more. Initiatives such as the Apprenticeship Levy, introduced in 2017, have encouraged employers to invest in apprenticeship programs. This levy requires large employers to contribute to the cost of apprenticeship training, fostering a culture of continuous professional development.
What Are Apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships are structured programs that combine practical work experience with academic learning. There are over 850 courses available in various sectors, from engineering and healthcare to digital marketing and finance. Participants, known as apprentices, earn a wage while gaining hands-on experience and working towards nationally recognised qualifications over a period of twelve months.
Financial Government Support
The great thing about apprenticeships is how the UK government has provided financial support to promote apprenticeships. Initiatives such as the Apprenticeship Levy, introduced in 2017, have encouraged employers to invest in apprenticeship programs.
The support provided depends on whether your business is an apprentice levy payer. For large businesses, the government will ask you to put aside the levy, to be used for funding the training, regardless of whether it is used or not. It cannot be used for any other purpose and a lot of businesses struggle to utilise it before it then goes to the government.
For non-levy payers, usually small businesses, you pay 5% towards the cost of training and assessing your apprentice and The government will pay the rest (95%) up to the funding band maximum. They’ll pay it directly to the training provider.
How can a business use Apprenticeships?
There can be a lot of different approaches, based on the business needs, specific industry and the goals for their workforce. Most tend to fall into these two categories;
Hiring new employees as Apprentices, who are recruited into a specific role and go through an Apprenticeship relevant to that role.
Upskilling existing employees by sourcing an Apprenticeship for the individuals to learn new skills or transition onto a new career path alongside their existing role.
The Future of Apprenticeships
With the ever-evolving job market, apprenticeships are poised to play a crucial role in the UK's economic landscape. They are helping to address skill gaps and shortages as well as providing diverse routes to fulfilling careers.
There are already a number of routes (see the image below) as to how individuals can develop and whilst there is a minimum age of 16 to become an apprentice, there is no upper limit. The government continues to launch other options that allow an overlap in the various routes with the introduction of T levels, launched in September 2020. Whilst this framework is only applicable in the UK, similar initiatives are available in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
National Apprenticeship Week 10th – 14th February 2025
This week is national apprenticeship week, an opportunity for training providers and employers to share their passions about apprenticeships and share the value, benefit, and opportunity that they bring.
Apprenticeships offer a flexible and pragmatic solution, equipping the workforce with the skills needed for the future. Businesses can use them as a tool to attract, retain and develop their talent.
Written by Sue Whitaker - Independent People & Performance Consultant
The Modern Mind Group offers outsourced people (HR) and performance services. Taking a modern approach to business is the answer to increased profits, highly engaged teams and record breaking results. The Modern Mind Group use their own Emotioneering® Business Formula as a framework alongside the Emotioneering® Blueprint Scorecard to measure success with each business that they work with. Offering a personal and unique service. Competent, reliable and approachable consultants.
Is it time to outsource your people services? Contact us today for a discovery call and discuss how you can get started in offering apprenticeships
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