Employer Incentives
www.bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk
Introduction This guide is designed to provide employers with more information about the range of government programmes available, some of which offer financial incentives. They are available for employers who are considering hiring employees and apprentices, offering work experience or upskilling existing staff. The Bedford College Group has more than 20 years’ experience working with employers in the local community. Our Business Development team works with more than 1,500 small, medium and large businesses across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire and further afield. Our aim is to help organisations improve their performance and productivity through industry specific training and recruitment.
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Apprenticeships
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Study Programmes
Industry Placements: T-Levels Kickstart scheme Sector-based Work Academy Programme
Apprenticeships Apprenticeships are training programmes that work for your business – they’re designed to develop the practical skills of your employees through on-the-job experience and training combined with off-the-job learning and nationally recognised qualifications, providing a range of business benefits that can outweigh the costs of training. Apprenticeships can be used to up-skill existing employees or bring in new talent. Apprentices spend 80% of their time in the workplace and at least 20% off-the-job (in a setting that suits the needs of your business) to gain the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours that are needed to complete the apprenticeship.
Employer Incentive
Employer Commitment
• You will receive £3,000 for new apprentices of any age who have an employment start date of 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021
• Apprenticeship wages
Apprentices who joined your organisation from 1 April 2021
An apprentice should be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week (including their time in College if stated in the delivery model). Employers will also need to provide:
• Applications close on 30 November 2021
• Mentoring to the apprentice
Apprentices who join your organisation from 1 October 2021
• Non levy paying employers with 49 or less employees pay nothing for 16-18 year old apprentices but are required to pay 5% for those who are 19+
• You will receive £3000 for new apprentices of any age who have an employment start date of 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022 once applications open in January 2022
• Non levy paying employers with 50 or more employees pay 5% regardless of age
• You must set up an apprenticeship service account before you can apply
• Levy paying employers pay 100% from their levy fund
Eligibility
• Contract of employment
• You can only apply for new apprentices who joined your organisation from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021
The Benefits
• You can only apply for new apprentices who joined your organisation from 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022 once applications open in January 2022 • You cannot apply for an existing employee who joined your organisation before 1 April 2021, even if they started an apprenticeship after this date • The incentive payment is in addition to the £1,000 employers already receive for hiring an apprentice: • Aged 16 to 18 years old • Under 25 with an education, health and care plan or who has been in the care of their local authority
Hiring an apprentice offers your organisation a host of benefits by: • Providing new, motivated talent • Nurturing and training to meet the needs of your business • Expanding and upskilling your workforce • Creating employee longevity – many apprentices stay with their employers to build on the skills they learn during their apprenticeship
86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation* *Source: apprenticeships.gov.uk 3
Industry Placements: T-Levels T Levels are high-quality, Level 3 classroom-based technical programmes that will equip students aged 16-19 with the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to progress into skilled employment. They are the biggest reform to vocational training in a generation and include a meaningful industry placement with an employer to get young people started off in their careers.
Employer Incentive
£1,000* cash boost for every T Level student hosted on a high-quality industry placement, *Terms & Conditions apply, visit: https:// www.gov.uk/government/publications/ employer-incentive-payments-foremployers-offering-a-t-level-industryplacement to find out more information
Employer Commitment
As an employer you will need to provide: • A high-quality, relevant work placement for the student • You can also choose to pay the student a wage or expenses such as travel and subsistence (although this is not mandatory)
Scheme Duration
Minimum of 45 days spent on an industry placement.
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The Benefits
Providing a T Level industry placement offers employers: • Early access to the brightest new talent and fresh perspective • Mentoring opportunities for your current employees • Additional support for projects • The chance to give back to your community Did you know? Employers can claim the incentive for up to 20 students, starting their T Level placements from now until July 2022!
Kickstart scheme The Kickstart scheme provides funding to employers to create new 6-month job placements for 16 to 24 year olds who are currently receiving Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. Designed to develop transferable skills to increase their chances of sustained employment, the Kickstart scheme offers employers funding that covers 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week.
Employer Incentive
• £1,500* to cover the costs of employability training and on-the-job start-up costs. These can include: - Uniform - PPE - IT equipment *Only applicable for employers who are able to provide a minimum of 30 job placements, unless paired with a Kickstart Gateway.
Employer Commitment
The Benefits
Providing a Kickstart Scheme placement offers employers: • An opportunity to expand your workforce with no cost commitment • Early access to new talent • The chance to help a young person move away from the reliance of benefits
For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/ collections/kickstart-scheme
The only commitment from employers is to offer a work placement.
Scheme Duration
The duration of the work placement should be 26 weeks.
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Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) Designed to help meet your immediate and future recruitment needs and to recruit a workforce with the right skills to sustain and grow your business, the SWAP programme is available to anyone receiving out-of-work benefits aged over 19. SWAPs provide a real opportunity to decide whether an individual is a good fit for an apprenticeship in your business after their placement.
Employer Incentive
• Free service • Pre-employment training for applicants • Tailored support to meet your recruitment needs
Employer Commitment • Guarantee an interview • Provide a work placement
Scheme Duration
The placement should be 2-6 weeks long.
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The Benefits
Providing a SWAP placement offers employers: • Early access to new talent • Tailored support to meet recruitment needs • An opportunity to enhance social responsibilities Recruit staff with the right training and skills from the outset, developed through fully-funded pre-employment training.
Study Programmes Tailored for those aged 16-19, Study Programmes offer individualised learning mapped to learners’ goals, alongside work placement opportunities to ensure success in the real world. The programme is made up of a one or two year course where they will study a Level 2 or 3 qualification in a subject of their choice. This will be studied alongside smaller qualifications to support their personal and professional development such as English & maths.
Employer Incentive • No cost
Employer Commitment • Offer a work placement of up to 35 hours • Agree objectives with the Work Placement Coordinator • Provide feedback on the student’s performance
Scheme Duration
The work placement hours students are required to undertake depend on the level of study. The hours can be completed with multiple employers and consist of: • Level 2 – 20 hours • Level 3 – 35 hours
Outcome & Progression
Offering a work placement as part of a study programme offers employers: • Early access to new talent • The chance to improve the CV of a young person
”It truly gave me a broader overview of what Marketing is like out in the business world. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
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CONTACT US BEDFORD COLLEGE & SHUTTLEWORTH COLLEGE Tel: 01234 291 747 training@bedford.ac.uk TRESHAM COLLEGE Tel: 01536 413 508 training@bedford.ac.uk Web: www.bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk Visit: www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
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