Apprenticeship Reform = good for business!?>*
Mark Corden
Senior Director HR Transformation, Infrastructure & Technology | Design and delivery of award-winning transformative HR that delivers business outcomes and increases employee engagement | FCIPD ? FIoL ? MSP
4 weeks ago the Apprenticeship Levy came into effect - you may have missed it if you blinked. When I say came into effect, it did technically, but for those large employers affected by it, you may not actually see the financial implications until this month. Or next.
OK, so at least it has started and now we're (employers) in the driving seat to invest in the Apprenticeship Training that meets our recruitment and skills needs. Well, sort of. Not all Apprenticeship Training Providers whom you may want to work with are eligible for you to do so, and some of those who are, have no track record of doing so. That's right, no experience or track record whatsoever. But it's OK, 'cause the process was rigorous and you can have confidence in selecting an Apprenticeship Training Provider from 'the Register'. Honest guv'.
So, you've paid the new tax (it's a tax), you've fathomed how to navigate the (now not- Digital) Apprenticeship Service, and you're ready to identify Apprenticeship programmes for your business. Great news, employers are able to define the products their business (sector) needs. Whoop!
So you get to spend the tax you paid on Apprenticeship Training with Apprenticeship Programmes that are right for your business. This is sounding better.
Oh. There are quite a lot of Apprenticeship Standards that have started 'Trailblazing', but they aren't all yet Approved for Delivery. More 'packed up bags, put the camp fire out and gone home' rather than 'Trailblazing'. Never mind, I'll work with what there is.
So, Levy paid. Check. Training funds in Digital Account. Check. Competent in new Apprenticeship Service. Check. Apprenticeship Programme selected. Check. Now, what's this about choosing an Apprenticeship Assessment Organisation......er, um.
At some stage businesses affected by the Apprenticeship Levy and wider Reforms may get a chance to design and curate immersive and engaging learning content and experience that are beneficial to apprentices, the businesses that employ them and the wider economy.
I write this as someone who has been around in the Apprenticeship world for a while now - the execution of the Reforms thus far has been painful on the receiving end - brick wall, bang head.
Managing Director at Alltube Engineering Ltd
7 年Apprentices have always been a positive to manufacturers, lets hope more companies can see the benefits of offering apprenticeships, regardless of the changes in legislation with the new levy. Amusing photo!
Regional Account Manager at AAT
7 年I am going to say (slightly tongue in cheek) that if many employers had engaged in apprenticeships via the previous non-levy (no tax) version and invested money themselves in the past the government would have probably been quite happy to continue on that path. Unfortunately many employers took a short term, profit now, no time to train staff approach to L&D and as such it was forced upon them, I generalise here enormously as many employers took their apprenticeships programme seriously with lots of positive outcomes. Unfortunately they were the exception. Whilst the governments approach has been utterly shambolic - I would suggest the average UK employers past approach to apprenticeships and training staff in general could encompass the same word. All in all I think employers who approach the Levy with the right intentions and give their learners (sorry employees) the right support and time will see positive outcomes for their business which hopefully will outweigh the cost and hassle involved.
Helping organisations align Learning and Development to their business strategy, goals and objectives
7 年We cannot change what has happened (many of us tried during the consultation period). We can though make the best fist of it as possible. Maximise the fund, influence our senior stakeholders and educate our people, schools and especially those looking to enter the job market on what apprenticeship can do to kick start their careers. Let's do this together!
Legal Advisor - Estate Planning
7 年Andrew Murphy
I work as an academic consultant working with students and schools and have seen first hand this idiocy. There remains an aggressively anachronistic approach that insists that regardless of any individual's ambition they would be better served dropping 50 grand on a worthless degree from a shit university to access a job that could gained quicker and with pay on an apprenticeship. I covered it in my blog just the other day 'to BA or not to BA.' - www.edducan.blog