Apprenticeships Guide for Employers

Institute of Technology

Nescot is proud to be a part of a new Institute of Technology for the Coast to Capital (C2C) region.

Led by Chichester College Group (CCG), the C2C consortium includes Nescot and the universities of Sussex and Brighton.

An initial £13 million of funding will enhance higher level skills training, with a new stateof-the-art hub and specialist satellites for delivery at locations across the region.

The investment will create new cuttingedge facilities for higher level technical training with a focus on digital and sustainable technologies across a number of sectors including engineering and construction.

Institutes of Technology (IoTs) are unique collaborations between existing further education colleges, universities, and leading employers.

Employers can be confident that people studying at an IoT are gaining the skills needed now and in the future.

Through our partnerships, we are embracing new technologies, pedagogies and research, which are shared across the Institute of Technology Network.

Julie Kapsalis, Chief Executive and Principal at Nescot, said:

“We are delighted to be working in collaboration with partners to develop the future of STEM education.

Institutes of Technology inspire people of all ages to challenge themselves and invest in their skills. Nescot’s expertise and values fit perfectly with the IoT ethos and it’s very exciting to be part of this successful regional project.”

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a work-focused programme of training to an industry standard. The apprentice will gain the skills and knowledge expected within their specific industry by completing a mixture of on-the-job and off-the-job training.

Overview

Whether you require new talent or have existing team members looking to gain a new qualification, apprenticeships are available in a wide range of sectors and different levels from intermediate to higher and degree apprenticeships.

We can support you throughout the recruitment process for your apprenticeship vacancy. We advertise your position and screen applicants with a view to presenting you with a shortlist of suitable candidates to interview.

What are the benefits of hiring an apprentice?

Apprenticeships are an exciting option for both apprentice and employer.

You can employ apprentices at different levels, from school leavers and university graduates, to people who want to further their careers or change career direction completely. You can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee.

As an employer, you can get funding from the government to help pay for apprenticeship training.

The benefits for your business

Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.

source https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/ employers/benefits-of-hiring-apprentice of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service

Other benefits of working with apprentices include: you can adapt their training according to the needs of your business they’re motivated to learn new skills you can expand and upskill your workforce

How long does an Apprenticeship take?

An Apprenticeship can last anywhere between one and five years, this depends on the qualification that will be achieved upon completion.

Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way for any business to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. As the economy recover ’Nescot offers a free recruitment service to employers hiring apprentices’.

Apprenticeships are available to new and existing staff.

Apprenticeships enable your staff to gain recognised qualifications up to degree level.

Apprenticeships reduce staff turnover and recruitment cost.

Apprenticeships are highly funded and in addition, employers employing apprentices aged 16-18 may be eligible for a Government incentive payment of £1,000.

There is no age limit for doing an apprenticeship

Levy transfers are available to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment costs from the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, apprenticeships will be more important than ever in helping businesses to recruit the right people, and develop the skills they need to respond to conditions and grow – both now and in the long-term. Therefore, the government policy is designed to support and protect current apprentices and to help employers maintain or rebuild the pipeline of new apprenticeship starts.

What apprenticeships does Nescot offer?

What cost is involved in employing an apprentice?

You are responsible for your apprentices’ wages in line with the national minimum wage (NMW) which is currently £6.40ph* for apprentices with no upper limit on the hourly rate offered. For apprentices over the age of 19 the NMW for apprentices is only applicable in the first year of the apprenticeship after which the NMW relevant to their age will apply.

Depending on the size of your business the following employer contributions apply towards the cost of training and assessments:

LEVY EMPLOYER

Wage bill is over £3m

Levy can be used to fund apprenticeships

New or existing staff

>50 EMPLOYEES

Non levy

5% employer contribution to training cost

<50 EMPLOYEES

16-21 years olds, training fully funded 22+, 5% employer contribution to training cost

* The NMW rates from 1 April 2024 are:

Non-levy employers can apply for a levy transfer to pay for any training and assessment cost.

What is a levy transfer?

Apprenticeships can be funded by a levy paying employer transferring up to 50% of their unused levy pot to other non-levy paying employers.

You may still have to pay the 5% contribution if you have over 50 employees and you do not wish to use a levy transfer.

Transferred funds are used to pay for 100% of the training and assessment costs of your apprentice.

You need an apprenticeship service account to apply for a transfer to fund an apprenticeship for your business. https://accounts.manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk/service

* Prior attainment will be assessed during the initial candidate interview and may reduce the overall cost of training and assessment

Are there any financial incentives for taking on an apprentice?

Employers receive a £1,000 incentive payment for hiring an apprentice: aged 16 to 18 years old or under 25 with an education, health and care plan or who has been in the care of their local authority

How it works

Fewer than 50 employees, employing apprentices aged 16-21 & payroll bill under £3m You’ll pay 0.5% of your annual payroll and receive a £15k allowance

apprenticeship training

Use funding for existing staff or new apprentices

funding for existing staff or new apprentices

funding for existing staff or new apprentices

for recruiting an apprentice aged 16-18 or for someone aged 19+ who requires additional support

incentive for recruiting an apprentice aged 16-18 or for someone aged 19+ who requires additional support 1 2 3

for recruiting an apprentice aged 16-18 or for someone aged 19+ who requires additional support

Is my business ready to employ an apprentice?

1

2

3

4

Create an account with the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) to apply for and reserve government funding.

Apprentices must be employed on a PAYE basis. They cannot be self-employed.

Apprentices should be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week* and a maximum of 40 hours if they are under the age of 19. This includes 6 hours off-the-job training per week.

You will need to complete forms with apprentice and employer details, as well as provide a current copy of your Employer Liability Insurance Certificate. Prior to an apprentice starting, Nescot College will complete a Skills Scan and basic Health & Safety assessment.

5

6

To be eligible for government funding all full-time apprentices (those that work 30 hours per week or more) must spend, as a minimum, 6 hours per week (minimum of 278 hours per year), over the planned duration of the practical period, on off-the-job training.

Employers must commit to providing training, support and supervision of the apprentice and to ensure they have the opportunity to carry out work/tasks to enable them to meet the criteria of their apprenticeship.

* This can be less in some circumstances, with prior justification and agreement, but would extend the duration of the apprenticeship.

How will Nescot College support me?

The Business Centre Team will assist with the strategic recruitment and training planning for your business, including sourcing and matching suitable candidates.

We will support you every step of the way from setting up your Digital Account to

advising you on the latest government incentive opportunities.

You and your apprentice will be supported and kept on track by an experienced assessor throughout the duration of the apprenticeship.

Nescot College can provide bespoke training solutions to meet your business and learning requirements.

How can I recruit an Apprentice?

The Business Centre team offers a free recruitment service for employers hiring new apprentices. We will advertise your position and shortlist suitable candidates for you to interview.

We can put you in touch with apprentices who need an employer, and we host recruitment and networking opportunities for you to engage with Nescot’s students.

When is the best time to recruit an apprentice?

You can employ an apprentice at any point during the year.

Start days for apprenticeship training courses can vary with the majority starting in September. Some courses have flexible start dates throughout the year. Speak to the Business Centre team to find out more.

How long does it take to sign up an apprentice?

To comply with funding regulations, we need to check your suitability as an employer as well as your apprentice’s eligibility.

You will be asked to provide us with the information we require to draw up a 3-way apprenticeship agreement.

Please allow a few weeks for us to process both your and your apprentices’ details.

Please advise your apprentice to register as early as possible by applying for the desired course on www.nescot.ac.uk.

The Digital Apprenticeship Service

The apprenticeship service is a government online service which will allow you to set up and manage your apprenticeships.

Why you need an account

to access and manage apprenticeship funding to request and manage incentive payments to set up and approve apprentices to advertise roles on the ‘Find an apprenticeship’ service to approve training costs to give feedback on apprenticeship training

Nescot’s Apprenticeship team can support you with your Digital Apprenticeship account. You can choose to give us permission to carry out some tasks on your behalf.

Roadmap for employers

Internal candidate

Internal employee and apprenticeship standard identified

Employee to complete Nescot application form

Employer

Digital Apprenticeship

Account registration and funding reservation

External candidate

New role and apprenticeship standard identified

Position advertised on Digital Apprenticeship Service

Prospective apprentice invited to Nescot interview and initial assessment with the assessor and employer

Nescot Employer skills scan completed to check that workplace is suitable for the apprenticeship

Applicants managed and shortlisted by Nescot’s free recruitment service for employers

Nescot Pro Forma to be completed by employer

Start date to be confirmed

Apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement issued and signed

I’ve been working with apprentices for ten years now and would definitely recommend it. Apprenticeships are… a great way for companies to find new talent, new ideas, and to grow their business.

Supermassive Games is growing exponentially, and our apprentices are a key part of that. I’m recruiting an apprentice at the moment, and as always my priority is finding someone with a great attitude.

You can always teach someone new technical skills if they are positive, hard-working and interested in people.

For someone who is thinking about hiring their company’s first apprentice, I would say: It isn’t as complicated as you think. There’s lots of information and support out there, especially from colleges like Nescot.

Frank Tindle IT and Facilities Director at Supermassive Games Ltd

We love having apprentices, because it’s a great way of continuing to improve our collective skills and expertise. Our apprentices can learn from the expertise of our experienced colleagues, and the whole team benefits from keeping up-to-date on the latest early years theories and principles.

We see apprenticeships as a long-term way of developing staff. We can nurture and mentor our new apprentices, and mould them to fit our ethos, and we can also upskill existing staff too.

There’s a gap in the market for qualified practitioners in Early Years, so we’re glad to be encouraging new staff into the sector.

Suzanne Walsh Operations and Nursery Manager at Nonsuch Park Forest School

We’ve been working with Nescot for six years, and we really value their support. We’re in regular contact with the team, and they’re always at the end of the phone when we need them.

Suzanne Walsh Operations and Nursery Manager at Nonsuch Park Forest School