Is the apprenticeship levy "at breaking point"?
Did anyone read the article about the apprenticeship levy in the Telegraph on Monday? This is the second 'big article' that I have seen from this journalist slamming the levy. At a time when our sector needs some stability and no more changes in process and policy I think it is ill informed and potentially hugely damaging. I would welcome hearing other views on the subject but in our world employers are fully engaged and starting and / or planning significant up-skilling programmes. Programmes that would not be happening without the levy, so we see huge growth in apprenticeship numbers over the coming months. None of our employers are complaining about red-tape or the lack of suitable apprenticeships. Again, what do others think? But I believe the drop in apprenticeship starts since last Spring is more likely to be directly linked to last year's fiasco in the award of funding contracts to non-levy providers, the 20% off-the-job requirement that I suspect many SMEs will find very difficult to afford or make work and then finally, the new mandatory 10% employer contribution which I feel sure will influence recruitment and training decisions in lots of SME and Micro businesses. I will be emailing Alan Tovey at the Telegraph again to make these points. The levy is a huge positive for the apprenticeship sector as a whole.
Growth Business Manager at Serco
7 年As an Apprentice on the Trailblazer Chartered Management Degree Course, I'm all for the Levy. I wouldn't be undertaking a degree without it.
Strategic Relationship Director at Intelligencia Training.
7 年From our experience with multiple high profile private and public sector organisations (including Govt agencies) we have found that the process has been seamless and well received. Not sure what all the fuss is about to be honest.