Apprenticeships: Are you up to date?

Apprenticeships have changed in recent years. The image of a young school leaver learning a trade simply isn’t what modern apprentices look like these days. The fact is, apprentices can be any age and could already be decades into their career.

The recently introduced apprenticeship levy means there is now funding available for all businesses to spend on staff training – even smaller businesses that don’t pay the levy.

Did you know…?

Apprenticeships can upskill existing staff

A vast proportion of apprentices are not new hires. The government has redefined apprenticeships to mean work-based training to upskill current staff as well as new recruits.

There is also no upper age cap on apprentices (although they have to be at least 16), or limit to the years of work experience or education they already have.

There are hundreds of types of apprenticeships

There is a wide range of apprenticeships to suit hundreds of professions and career levels, ranging from a Level 2 Warehouse and Storage course to a four-year Engineering programme. Apprentices can study degree or even masters-level courses.

Training can be provided in the workplace

Many employers are concerned they are going to lose their apprentice for long periods of time to training, but an apprentice is only required to spend 20% of their time on the training aspect of their apprenticeship. In some cases, this is provided on-site.

Levy payers lose it if they don’t use it

Companies with an annual payroll of £3 million or more pay the apprenticeship levy regardless of whether they use it or not. It’s transferred monthly into a digital account, and anything drawn from it for training is topped up by the government by 10%. Unspent funds expire after two years.

The government funds at least 90% of training for SMEs

If your payroll is less than £3 million per year, you aren’t required to pay the apprenticeship levy. But you still have access to training funds. If you have an apprentice aged 19 or above, the government contributes 90% to the cost of their training. If your apprentice is 16-18 at the start of their apprenticeship the government pays 100% of the training plus £1,000 to the business.

If you would like help with apprenticeships, People Puzzles can help you to set one up. Call us on 020 3239 3307 to find out more.