7 minute read
employment and skills
Demystifying Apprenticeships
Below we debunk some popular myths surrounding apprenticeships with examples from the people that work with us.
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Maria Georgiou
Regional Account Manager (Apprenticeships) Ixion
Myth: Apprenticeships are only for young people
Apprenticeships are actually for anyone aged 16 and over – there is no upper age limit. They are suitable not just for school leavers, but also for those looking to change careers and those looking to return to work after a career break.
Apprenticeships are also for people of any age who are already employed and looking to upskill.
Here at Ixion we support employers to recruit and train individuals of all ages and backgrounds to support social mobility and ensure individuals reach their potential.
“Apprenticeships provide a learning gateway for all: at any phase of life; at any stage of professional expertise; for any level of experience. They enable next step thinking to be integrated into current practice which scaffolds a platform for growth, self-determined career progression, and intellectual challenge. Whether you are 17 or 70, with qualifications, or without, apprenticeships provide bespoke tailored opportunities which are expertly matched to the needs of an individual enabling a personalised approach to both learning and accreditation.”
Jo Morgan, CEO, Shaw Education Trust and Senior Leader, Masters Degree Apprentice
“We have young people as well as people in their late twenties, thirties and forties. We value those transferable skills from previous roles in older apprentices as much as the raw talent that younger people bring as a way to get into the construction industry which is great for us.”
Amy Ross, Head of Social Value, Higgins Partnerships
Myth: Apprentices are there to do the jobs you don’t want to do
Apprenticeships are training programmes for people to develop the skills and knowledge they need in order to be effective in their roles. This not only benefits the apprentice but also the organisation they are working in. The more time that is spent developing skills and supporting the apprentice to be able to put these into practice the more everyone gets out of the apprenticeship.
At Ixion, we believe a successful Apprenticeship programme is a mutual and communicative partnership between us, the employer and the learner.
“As a mentor you need to change their mentality to work, communicate and relay information, take the time to teach them skills. As an employer you need to take responsibility as it’s your job to help them develop to ensure they become a wellrounded individual – it’s not cheap labour – this isn’t fair on them or you as they won’t pass and it’s a waste of time.”
Saima Khan, CVC Components
Myth: Apprenticeships are only for manual roles
Apprenticeships cover a large number of sectors and job roles from Business and Customer Services, Health and Social Care, Education, Retail, Hospitality, Media and Marketing – you can even study puppet making!
Within each sector they cover a number of roles from entry-level all the way to management.
“It has definitely given me a lot more information, knowledge and skills, and has made me better at my job. It’s been an eye opener, learning all the skills needed to be able to provide the best support in my role. It’s also made me want to continue learning.”
Jack, Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship
Myth: Apprenticeships cannot be used for existing staff
Apprenticeships can be used to upskill and retrain your existing workforce.
You can use apprenticeship training to:
fill key skill gaps in your business
boost employee motivation by investing in their development
improve retention
For example, an experienced employee may be keen to get a formal qualification in their specialist area, or perhaps someone who has the aptitude and drive to learn something new and progress into a different role.
Apprenticeships are designed by employers so they reflect the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours that your business needs.
“I was doing well at what I needed to improve on, and unlearning the bad habits – it was nice to get a bit of reassurance I was on the right lines and the things I shouldn’t be doing as a line manager I was able to unlearn, and going though changes in my management style was really beneficial.”
Jonathan Weighall, Management Level 3 Apprenticeship
Government Incentive Payments
In the March 2021 Budget, the Government announced further employer incentives for apprenticeships in recognition of the value they bring to the economy from 1 April 2021 until September 2021.
£3,000 for each new apprentice hired of any age
Together with the existing £1,000 payment provided for new apprentices aged 16 to 18 and those under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan
Therefore an employer can claim a total of £4,000 per apprentice.
Until 31 July 2021 employers can also receive £1,000 for each new trainee taken on, therefore an employer progressing a trainee into an apprenticeship can receive up to £5,000 for one new employee.
We are part of Shaw Trust, one of the largest charities in the UK and together we believe in fairness, equality and opportunity. We believe everyone has the right to live a decent and dignified life and have the opportunity for rewarding work. As a social purpose organisation, we challenge inequality and break down barriers to enable social mobility.
If you would like to consider an apprenticeship for an existing employee, or would like support with hiring an apprentice then please get in touch.
maria.georgiou@ixionholdings.com
Training and Events Diary
Customs Declaration E-learning Training
The Chamber of Commerce network has partnered with some of the leading industry experts to launch brand new Customs Declarations Training designed to prepare businesses and trade professionals for the future of trade.
The way we trade with the EU is about to change, introducing the need for forms and processes not previously required. Up-skilled people are the key to continued training success once the UK leaves the EU.
The Customs Declarations Training programme delivers flexible, bite-sized e-learning modules, classroom courses, and virtual classroom sessions.
Grant funding: Visit our website (training) to obtain applications for HMRC training funding.
Course pre-requisites: there are no prerequisites for this course. Course content is based on the following topics:
Introduction to Trade
Business Responsibilities
Export process
Import process
Valuation – explanation of the main methods and their application
Classification – determining the use of commodity codes
Using Customs Procedure Codes – use of appropriate CPCs Export and import controls
Reliefs
Preferences
Customs simplified procedures – explanation of procedures and benefits
Assessment: no formal exam will be taken however delegates will get to complete simulated forms to ensure they can complete simple customs declarations correctly.
Registering Interest: To register interest please email
info@sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
Funded & Accredited Virtual Training
Working in close partnership with Sussex Chambers of Commerce, East Sussex College Group have developed a suite of qualifications to support business to change and adapt by developing skills in 4 key areas; Digital Skills, LEAN Management, Equality & Diversity and Mental Health Advocacy in the workplace:
Level 2 Certificate in Digital Skills for Work-
Become qualified in the use of the latest digital applications used in the workplace including Microsoft Teams, Onefile/Dropbox, Instagram, Linked In etc. understanding best practice and how to use the evolving technology in a GDPR compliant way across your organisation.
Level 2 Certificate in Equality and Diversity-
Qualify your staff with an accredited certificate to ensure equality and diversity is embedded in your strategic planning and continuous professional development process.
Level 2 Certificate in Lean Organisation Management Techniques-
This Certificate is aimed at team leaders and project managers wanting to improve business performance through continuous professional development of employees and their skill set. Learners will develop an understanding of lean organisation techniques in business, develop their knowledge and understanding of business improvement tools and techniques and understand what makes and effective team including how to handle conflict.
Level 2 Certificate Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace-
Raise your employees’ knowledge and awareness of the different types of mental health problems and their prevalence, as well as understanding individuals with these conditions in order to care for and interact with them..
Using an intuitive online platform with optional 1:1 support from tutors via video conferencing we are providing a Government funded training package to give your staff the skills and resilience to meet the challenges of recovery.
Use the promotional code SUSSEXCHAMBERS1 to access any of these 4 courses free of charge for yourself or your staff while funding is available.
To enrol go to escg.theskillsnetwork.com and follow the application process. You will need to complete a short maths and English assessment and be asked some short questions about how the course will benefit you.
If you would like more information please contact:
