National Apprenticeship Week
NEWSLETTER
WORK EXPERIENCE PLACEMENTS
WHAT WE DO NESCOT’S NEW BUSINESS CENTRE
The Business Centre at Nescot is designed to support the current and future needs of your business. We help all kinds of organisations to grow by accessing talented, passionate and skilled staff. Whether you’re looking to recruit and train new staff, upskill your existing team or develop your senior managers, we have a range of options to suit your needs. Speak to our business contact team today and find out how we can help. Call us on 020 8394 8593 or email businesscentre@nescot.ac.uk
APPRENTICESHIPS As one of the biggest apprenticeship training providers in the area, we can draw on our extensive team of
specialist staff to deliver the high-quality skills and knowledge you need. We offer apprenticeships from construction to management, and our staff will help you to find the qualification that best suits your needs, whether that’s recruiting a new apprentice or helping your existing team to gain new skills. To find out more visit www.nescot. ac.uk/apprenticeships or speak to our business contact team to arrange a free consultation.
RECRUITMENT
Finding talented staff isn’t easy, and finding the right person for the job can be an expensive exercise. Our free recruitment service is designed to help you advertise, select and develop the right apprentice for your business. Speak to our business contact team to find out how we can help you.
Work experience placements are a great way for businesses to access the next generation of talent, with young people bring new ideas and a fresh perspective to your organisation. Work experience placements also benefit our students by giving them ‘real’, practical experience which is directly-related to their course and helps to prepare them for work. To find out more contact wex@nescot.ac.uk
FREE NETWORKING EVENTS
Nescot is holding a free business networking event each month. The event will be held in our Skills Park from 8am to 10am, and will include a free breakfast. The next event is on April 2. To find out more, and to register to attend, search ‘Nesworks Nescot’ online. To sponsor an event contact businesscentre@nescot.ac.uk
Nescot Networking Event
HOW DO APPRENTICESHIPS SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS?
A Q&A with Stephanie Boughtflower, HR Manager at Skyguard. Q. How many apprentices do you currently have at Skyguard?
Europe’s Premier Personal Safety Service
A. Six in total, including four completing Business Administration, one in IT and one in Digital Marketing.
Q. Why did you decide to take on apprentices rather than fully-qualified staff?
WHY HIRE AN APPRENTICE?
Apprenticeships are a way of developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. Hiring apprentices also brings other benefits, including improving morale and productivity. Investing in apprenticeships is a cost-effective way of growing talent, because there is government funding that can help – including an incentive payment of £1,000 that companies employing new apprentices aged 16 to 18 may be eligible for. Apprenticeships can help you to: • Grow your team while keeping pay costs down • Make hiring cheaper and simpler • Develop new recruits to meet your needs • Help your existing staff to gain new qualifications • Grow your own talent • Give your team new skills and energy. To find out more, contact The Business Centre on 020 8394 8593 or email businesscentre@nescot.ac.uk
www.nescot.ac.uk
A. We do both, but we decided to employ apprentices to help us grow our talent pipeline. Our ethos was that by capturing them before they enter the world of work we can develop them to have the exact skills we need them to have. We hope that ultimately, by our investment of giving them the skills to perform in the workplace, they will have a long and happy career here at Skyguard.
Q. How has Skyguard benefitted from employing apprentices?
A. In the first instance, they have helped to fill our recruitment vacancies. They bring a different mindset, which in most cases is energetic and motivated to learn, and with this attitude of ‘I want to be here and I want to learn’. They are proactive to take on new skills and challenges. It also gives our managers the opportunity to develop and coach staff, which they don’t always get when they’re working with an established, successful team. This can bring new vigour and engagement to the Management Team.
Q. Why did you choose Nescot as your apprenticeship provider?
A. They are a local education provider with a good reputation, plus they offer the exact courses we require. We were looking for different course from business to IT, and the fact that they are all on offer at Nescot seemed like a sensible partnership for us. The apprenticeship team has been instrumental in supporting us, for example taking the time to come in and meet the different team heads to get a more thorough understanding of our company our needs. So far, all our apprentices have been the perfect fit.
Q. Are you planning to recruit more apprentices in the future?
A. Definitely – now and in the longer-term. It did take me a while to convince the senior managers that we should have an apprentice in every department, because they thought it would be too much of a challenge. I’m glad to say that it’s been a successful pilot for us – and all the senior managers have been brought into the scheme, so it’s a win-win. Skyguard providers Europe’s premier personal safety service for lone workers and people at risk. Skyguard is a subsidiary of the Send for Help Group, which is the largest loner worker protection provider in the UK, Europe and globally.
Nescot, Reigate Road, Ewell, Epsom, KT17 3DS
THE APPRENTICESHIP LEVY: USE IT OR LOSE IT
Time is running out to use your apprenticeship levy funds. If you have a payroll of £3 million or more, you will be making levy payments via your digital account. The government has announced that any unspent funds will expire after 24 months, so funds which entered in May 2017 will expire next month. Research from the Open University in February showed UK businesses could be at risk of losing a combined total of £3 billion in levy funding. Their survey found two-thirds of employers asked said they found the new funding system confusing, with 36% saying they wanted more guidance and 35% saying they wanted the system to be simplified.
NESCOT CAN HELP YOU TO MAXIMISE YOUR LEVY
You can use the money to invest in staff of any age and level, from trainees to leaders. We offer opportunities to upskill existing staff and train recruits across all sectors, including: • Leadership & Management
• Customer Service
• Business Administration
• Childcare
• Digital Marketing
• Construction: Carpentry, Joinery, Plumbing, Plastering and Electrical
• Content Production • IT • Hospitality & Catering
• Motor Vehicle
Using levy to upskill some of your existing staff will help them to learn new skills in order to progress within your organisation. Our team can help you identify your business needs and decide how apprenticeships can help you achieve your goals.
LOOKING TO GROW YOUR TEAM?
Nescot’s new Business Centre is open all year round, and supports businesses’ current and future workforce needs. We work closely with employers in Surrey and South-West London to find the best candidates for their vacancies. This service is provided at no charge to the candidate or employers. For further information please contact the Business Centre on 020 8394 8593 or email businesscentre@nescot.ac.uk
www.nescot.ac.uk
Nescot, Reigate Road, Ewell, Epsom, KT17 3DS