APPRENTICESHIPS AN EMPLOYERS GUIDE

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1 APPRENTICESHIPS AN EMPLOYERS GUIDE

2 CONTENTS 3 > Wirral Met College Who we are 4 > What is an apprenticeship? 6 > Benefits of an apprenticeship 7 > What every employer should know 9 > How are apprenticeships changing? 10 > Apprenticeship funding 13 > Apprenticeships at Wirral Met College 14 > What can you expect from Wirral Met College? 15 > Useful websites WMC.AC.UK

3 Wirral Met College Who we are Our aim is to support your business growth, productivity and efficiency From apprenticeships to work-based training and short courses, we work with businesses of all types and sizes across a range of market sectors in Wirral, Cheshire and the Liverpool City Region, providing; Comprehensive apprenticeship training and work-based learning Professional development courses for up-skilling your existing workforce Bespoke short training courses designed to meet your specific needs Advice on funding opportunities available 1 1million invested in: Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Centre at our Twelve Quays Campus 11 million invested in: Wirral Waters Campus dedicated to construction trades We deliver training and education to over 10,000 apprentices & students each year 3

4 Apprenticeships give people of all ages the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge in their chosen career. Businesses can develop and grow by training existing staff and recruiting new staff through an apprenticeship. What is an apprenticeship? The Enterprise Act 2016 states that organisations cannot provide a course or training as an apprenticeship if it is not a statutory apprenticeship. The Act aims to strengthen and protect the reputation of the apprenticeship brand for training providers, employers and apprentices and prevent unauthorised use of the apprenticeships name to give employers more confidence that they are investing in high quality apprenticeships. There are various levels of apprenticeship available from Level 2 to Level 7 level up to Master level. An apprenticeship is a way for people of all ages to access real training in industries of all sizes and sectors. Levels of apprenticeship APPRENTICESHIP LEVEL EQUIVALENT 2 5 GCSE passes at grades A* to C 3 2 A Level passes 4 & 5 Foundation Degree / HNC/D 6 Bachelor s Degree 7 Master s Degree 4

5 ROBERT GREEN Apprentice Administrator, Wirral Met College Apprenticeships are the best way to start your career off after school. They allow you to get valuable knowledge and experience whilst getting paid. 5

6 Benefits of an apprenticeship? Apprenticeships are valuable for both the apprentice and the employer FOR EMPLOYERS Apprenticeships: Support businesses to develop their existing workforce; Provide a way to recruit and retain individuals who are more likely to remain with the organisation for longer; Enable employers to create a more diverse workforce, while realising a greater return on investment in training; Incur lower costs associated with recruiting and training apprentices. DEVELOP YOUR EXISTING WORKFORCE Apprenticeships can also help: Support succession planning and promotion from within; Apprentices can bring new ideas and innovation to the business; Apprenticeships help secure a supply of skilled young recruits. 6

7 FOR APPRENTICES Apprenticeships: Provide a route to acquiring relevant skills and experience; Help to form attitudes and behaviours necessary for a successful career in their chosen profession. APPRENTICESHIPS BOOST PRODUCTIVITY To enable businesses to grow their skills base resulting in increased profits, lower prices and better products. What every employer should know All apprentices must be employed and therefore be issued with a contract of employment in line with current legislation. The contract is between the employer and the apprentice. Wirral Met College is not involved in the terms and conditions of this contract. All apprentices should be provided with a full induction to include health and safety. Employers must provide relevant personal protective equipment and clothing free of charge to all staff and apprentices. 7

8 ELIGIBILITY Apprentices must be aged 16+ Existing staff and new recruits can have a Degree qualification providing it is not related to the apprenticeship. HOURS OF WORK The minimum duration of each apprenticeship is based on the apprentice working at least 30 hours per week including any offthe-job training. If the apprentice works fewer than 30 hours per week, the expected duration of the apprenticeship will be extended (pro-rata). An apprentice s contracted working hours also include their 20% off-the-job training COLLEGE ATTENDANCE Time spent in college for training (where applicable) must be included within the apprentice s working hours and paid at the normal hourly rate. The employer must agree to allow the apprentices to attend college, when required. SALARY Apprentices must receive a minimum salary in line with the National Minimum Wage for apprentices. This is subject to change in line with government legislation. For more details, visit gov.uk Apprentices must be paid for their 20% off-the-job training. 20% OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING All apprentices must complete off-the-job training; this must make up at least 20% of the apprentice s contracted hours over the planned duration of the apprenticeship. Off-the-job training can include college day release* or training delivered at the apprentice s normal place of work. *not English or Maths 8

9 How are apprenticeships changing? The road to quality changing perceptions An independent review of apprenticeships recommended a sharper emphasis on the quality and rigour of apprenticeships, so that training is both trusted and transferable. The review emphasised the importance of the relationship between an employer and an apprentice. In addition to challenging government to put employers at the heart of the system s design and delivery, the review recommended that government should focus on outcomes, or what apprentices do at the end of their apprenticeships. The government moved to protect the term apprenticeship in the Enterprise Act 2016, making it an offence for any person, business or training provider to provide or offer a course or training as an apprenticeship if it is not a statutory apprenticeship and an apprenticeship agreement is not in place between an employer and an apprentice. Following the 2012 review, the government moved to create trailblazers or groups of employers working together to design new apprenticeship standards and assessment criteria for occupations in their sectors. These standards will replace existing frameworks by August The new apprenticeship standards are short, accessible documents, describing the level of knowledge, skills and behaviours required to do a particular role well, i.e. describing full competence for the role. All apprenticeship standards have to relate to a specific role or occupation (for example Assistant Accountant), and provide a pathway to a career in the sector. STUART UMBERS Apprentice Mechanical Engineer, Prowell Stuart won the IMechE Apprentice of the Year award

10 Apprenticeship funding The Levy WHO PAYS THE LEVY AND HOW MUCH WILL IT BE? Since 6 April 2017, employers in all parts of the UK have been required to pay a levy of 0.5% of their annual pay bill exceeding 3m. Pay bill is defined as total employee earnings subject to class 1 secondary National Insurance contributions. An allowance of 15,000 means that only those employers with an annual pay bill of more than 3m have to pay and report the levy, as this allowance eliminates a levy liability up to a pay bill of 3m. A pay bill of less than 3m may attract a levy liability where an employer operates multiple payrolls, or has more than one HMRC reference, or is a connected company or charity, as only one allowance is available. HOW IS THE LEVY COLLECTED? The levy is collected monthly by HMRC through the employer s PAYE, and is payable alongside income tax and National Insurance. Similarly, the annual allowance of 15,000 is deducted on a monthly basis ( 15,000 divided by 12 months). HOW DO EMPLOYERS ACCESS THEIR LEVY FUNDS? Once employers have declared the levy to HMRC, they will be able to access funding for English apprenticeships through their digital account with the Apprenticeship Service. WHAT ELSE DOES THE APPRENTICESHIP SERVICE DO? Through the Apprenticeship Service, employers can: select an apprenticeship framework or standard; choose the training provider or providers they want to deliver the training; choose the organisation that will assess their apprentices; access post-apprenticeship vacancies. Employers are also able to set the price they have agreed with their selected training provider, and pay for apprenticeship training and assessment. Importantly, should an apprentice stop training or take a break, employers will also be able to stop or pause payments through the Apprenticeship Service. 10

11 HOW MUCH DO EMPLOYERS SPEND? The amount appearing in an employer s account will be calculated using data that HMRC already holds about the home addresses of employees, so that the value of digital vouchers will correspond to the proportion of the pay bill paid to employees living in England. After the levy fund has been multiplied by the proportion of the employer s pay bill paid to their workforce living in England, it will then be subject to a 10% government top-up to this amount. HOW CAN THE APPRENTICESHIP LEVY BE SPENT? Funds in an employer s digital Apprenticeship Service account will be valid for 24 months and can only be spent on apprenticeship training and not the wider associated costs of apprenticeships or apprentices salaries. If funds are not used within 24 months, they will be taken off the employer. TRANSFER OF LEVY Employers who pay the apprenticeship levy and have unused funds can transfer up to 10%* of their annual funds to other employers. Transfers can be made to as many employers as the levy paying employer wishes. Transferred funds can only be used for Apprenticeship Standards. *set to increase to 25% in April

12 DEANNA ROBINSON Painting & Decorating Apprentice, Whittle Hankinson 12

13 Apprenticeships at Wirral Met College Accounting Business & Management Childcare & Early Years Construction Engineering Hair & Beauty Health Hospitality & Catering Motor vehicle Retail Science Warehousing Operations 13

14 What can you expect from Wirral Met College? Advertise Enrol Selection Interview Advertise We will advertise your vacancy to our own students and wider afield, too, via the National Apprenticeship Service. Selection Our team will match and screen potential applicants to your specific needs and job role. We ll make sure they understand the vacancy, the role, the commitment and your company s expectations of them. Interview We can support you with arranging interviews; you just have to look over the CVs and agree which candidates you d like to meet. Enrol Leave all the paperwork to us. When your apprentices start their employment with you, we will enrol them onto the apprenticeship. Dedicated support A designated member of our Employer Services team will provide one point of contact throughout the duration of the apprenticeship. Guidance choosing the correct apprenticeship to suit your requirements. Workplace Health & Safety Assessment. Information and guidance on available funding and any grants that you may be able to access. Industry qualified tutors/trainers/assessors to support you and your apprentice through their apprenticeship. Additional support for individual apprentices, as required. Electronic portfolios where you can see your apprentices progress throughout their apprenticeship. 14

15 Useful websites gov.uk This website will provide you with information on employment law including producing a statement of particulars, working hours, holiday entitlement, sickness and other absences. You will also find information about apprenticeship reforms. hse.gov.uk This website will provide you with information specific to your area of business as well as examples of risk assessments, policies and templates. wmc.ac.uk This will provide you with information about Wirral Met College and the variety of apprenticeships, study programmes, short courses and Degree level programmes we offer. Instituteforapprenticeships.org Search for apprenticeship standards and training providers delivering these standards. > ETHAN BRISCOE Higher Level Apprentice Laboratory and Science Technician, NHS 15

16 Employer Services Wirral Waters Campus Tower Road, Birkenhead CH41 1AA E: wmc.ac.uk