Weymouth College
EMPLOYER SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS Opportunities for all
Contents Welcome
3
Apprenticeships
4
Dorset Training Academy
6
Skills and Workforce Development
7
HE and T Levels
8
Working with us
10
Working with you
12
Independent Advice and Guidance/Careers
14
External hire
15
How to get in touch If you would like to find out more about any of the opportunities in this guide, please contact a member of the Employer Services Team.
Employerservices@weymouth.ac.uk 01305 208709 www.weymouth.ac.uk/employerservices
Welcome
to Employer Services@WeymouthCollege So who are we? After listening to local businesses and community partners, EmployerServices@ WeymouthCollege was formed in 2020 and brings together the Apprenticeship Team, Dorset Training Academy and External Partnership Team functions to form a cohesive and comprehensive service to local employers and business partners. And what do we do? Employer Services@WeymouthCollege offer a wide and collaborative service which delivers support and training to our business partners – old and new – working together towards a sustainable recovery through 2022 and beyond. We offer a range of flexible and tailor-made training solutions for large and small employers ranging from short CPD courses to apprenticeships and will carry out organisational needs analyses and provide a range of support and advice to fulfil your business training needs. Why Work with us? This partnership means that everyone benefits. You the employer get access to all of our professional learning services, facilities and industry specific training to help you to improve performance and productivity, whilst our students get to learn from industry experts and enhance their career prospects. Your involvement also helps us to shape our curriculum to match employer requirements meaning students leave Weymouth College with the skills to help businesses flourish and their own careers take off.
‘This partnership means that everyone benefits.’
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Apprenticeships An apprenticeship programme is designed to deliver the skills you need for your business and the trained workers you need for the future. The programme can also help you develop the specialist skills to keep pace with the latest technology and working practices in your sector. When you take on an apprentice you are able to train them to your standards and the effort you put into their training programme can be very rewarding. Apprentices tend to be eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company that invested in them. Remember, an apprentice is with you because they want to be – they have made an active choice to learn on the job and a commitment to a specific career. Offering an apprentice employment can deliver real returns to your bottom line – leading to lower overall training and recruitment costs, helping improve productivity and in turn making your business more competitive. If you would like to discuss taking on an apprentice or would like some more information then please contact the Apprenticeship Team on 01305 208709 or fill in the Employer Enquiry Form. 4 www.weymouth.ac.uk
The Levy The apprenticeship levy is a compulsory tax on employers to help fund the development and delivery of apprenticeships. Not everyone has to pay the levy. In fact, 98% of UK employers don’t… •
Do you have a total wage bill in excess of £3 million a year? If yes, then you need to pay the levy at a rate of 0.5% of your wage bill (offset by a levy allowance of £15,000).
•
Do you have a wage bill less than £3 million per annum? You don’t need to pay the levy but you are still expected to make a financial contribution and co-invest 5% of the agreed training price. The Government pays the remaining 95%.
•
Are you a small employer (fewer than 50 employees) with an apprentice aged 16-18? The Government pays 100% of the apprenticeship costs.
Apprenticeship Service Account All employers now need to ensure they have an apprenticeship service account prior to starting an apprentice, this will enable employers to: •
access and manage apprenticeship funding
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enrol apprentices
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advertise roles on the ‘find an apprenticeship’ service (the college can also assist with this service)
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approve training costs
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check payments to training providers
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give training providers permission to carry out some tasks on your behalf
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give feedback on apprenticeship training
To create a service account you can access the government website here:
more information on setting up a service account
98%
of UK employers do not need to pay the Apprenticeship Levy.
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Adult Skills Dorset Training Academy The Dorset Training Academy offers a wide range of professional training solutions specifically for businesses – yet tailored for the individual – from short courses to industry-recognised qualifications. Our trainers will offer your staff valuable insight and expert knowledge to increase the impact of all of our training courses. Our range of courses include mental health first aid, health and safety compliance training and office based IT skills. Our training offer is growing all the time with our up-to-date course list available on our website. Distance Online Learning Delivered fully funded through the Dorset Training Academy and awarded by NCFE/CACHE, our range of online distance learning courses provide a flexible learning approach which allow you to create a new approach to providing CPD for your staff and will fit around work and family commitments. With our range of courses, you and your employees can gain industry-recognised qualification(s) that will provide valuable CPD opportunities and provide valuable evidence of your enhanced skills and knowledge. To find out more and to sign up, follow our web enquiry form.
‘With our range of courses, you and your employees can gain industry-recognised qualifications.’ 6 www.weymouth.ac.uk
Skills and workforce Development
‘This flexible learning can take place at a convenient time for you.’
Based at our Town Centre site, we offer a fully comprehensive range of adult focussed learning and upskilling. Delivered via a range of methods to suit the individual and their employers, this flexible learning can take place at a convenient time for you and your workforce and can include evening delivery if required. English, Maths, ICT & Digital Skills Our dedicated and flexible tutors deliver courses for employers who want to upskill their workforce and also any employee who wants to independently upskill to help them in their workplace. The courses are FREE of charge to UK residents. www.weymouth.ac.uk 7
HE and T Levels T Levels – What are they? T levels are a brand new two-year technical qualification for 16-18 year olds, which have been designed with employers to give young people the skills required by industry. T levels will provide young people with a clear route to skilled employment, as well as progression to higher or degree apprenticeships, or degree-level study at university. With T levels, students spend at least 315 hours on work placement with an employer, giving them an opportunity to develop both knowledge and skills. The technical qualification will include: • core theory, concepts and skills for an industry area • specialist skills and knowledge for an occupation or career • an industry placement with an employer • a minimum standard in Maths and English if students have not already achieved them. The industry placement is a very important part of T Levels and participating employers will have a unique opportunity to develop new talent and help young people become work ready. From September 2023 Weymouth College is looking to run T level programmes in the following areas: • Education and Childcare • Digital • Construction. If your organisation would be interested in being part of these exciting new programmes, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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University level education Weymouth College has a wide range of courses to help individuals to develop their professional skills, boost their employability and improve their career prospects. Our university level programmes will help your employees develop the knowledge and skills required for specific jobs in different fields and industries. They may be looking to upskill in order to progress their career, learn a new skill or process in order to keep up with the evolving requirements of their current job, or looking to have a change of direction and move into a completely new role within the company. Our newly redeveloped, campus-based Higher Education Centre offers a range of university level courses specifically designed to provide the opportunities and key skills needed for both work and further study. Our ever-expanding course portfolio has been developed in close partnership with our awarding bodies. We offer: •
specialist and industry respected teaching staff who bring a wealth of experience to the learning environment
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strong links with local community and business – ensuring our courses deliver the skills businesses need
•
small class sizes ensuring a high level of personal attention and support
•
lower course fees
•
course approval through the University of Plymouth and Pearson.
We currently offer courses in the following subject areas: •
art and design, creative media production, health and social care, public services, sport, professional studies (health and community) (approved by the University of Plymouth)
•
business, engineering, creative media (visual effects), computing, construction and the built environment, performing arts (musical theatre), music (approved by Pearson).
For further information or an informal discussion about any of the above, please contact Roz Osborne, our Higher Education Registrar at roz_osborne@weymouth.ac.uk
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Working with us At Weymouth College we are focused on ensuring our students are equipped with the necessary skills to progress to their next step – whether that’s the next level of their course, higher education or employment. We believe that through working with businesses – drawing on expertise and industry knowledge – we can constantly monitor and review the courses that we offer to ensure they maintain a clear focus on the enterprise skills, experience and qualifications that employers want in their future workforce. Supporting placements One of the best ways to help our students prepare for the world of work, and be as beneficial as possible to their future employers, is to ensure they have the opportunity to undertake meaningful, realistic work experience. Work experience is an extremely important part of a student’s learning and we strive to embed work experience opportunities across our course base. It’s not only a great way of gaining some invaluable experience in the area of study you’re interested in but offers the chance to start to develop the much wider skills needed to succeed in the world of work. Taking on a student for work experience offers many benefits for employers. •
Work experience can be good branding for your company, promoting positive customer relations and support of the younger generation.
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A work experience student can offer a whole new energy, enthusiasm and perspective.
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It can be a great recruitment strategy, especially if you are looking to attract a younger workforce to your company.
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Offering work experience helps to promote your industry as one that offers good career opportunities.
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A cost effective way of getting an extra resource for a period of time.
We already have a range of different industry events, links and speakers but are always looking for further opportunities to continue to add to our students learning experience. If you would be interested in joining our ever-growing employer contact list we would love to hear from you.
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Working with you Employer Advisory Groups Employer Services regularly hosts valuable advisory groups, where we look forward to inviting our local employers to talk about the future workforce and local economy. Industry and education working in partnership ensures our current and future students can support local workforce demands. These groups are a great way for businesses and our curriculum teams to network through open informative discussions and to inform and ensure our students have the relevant up-to-date skills needed. If you would like to be involved, please contact the team now. Sector Based Development Sessions Our Apprenticeship Team hold regular sector based development sessions with our curriculum teams, and apprenticeship training coordinators. The aim of these sessions is to work on our apprenticeship delivery and we welcome feedback from employers. Our intentions are to lead our delivery in line with insights and direction from industry. If you are an active or potential employer and would like to be involved please contact Employer Services.
‘It is really important to understand industry need and our local employers help our curriculum delivery teams ensure our courses and apprenticeships are in line with those needs - a partnership of education and industry.’ 12 www.weymouth.ac.uk
‘It enhances confidence and provides students with an invaluable chance to meet working professionals.’
Work Experience Work-based learning is a very important component of many courses at Weymouth College. It enhances confidence and provides students with an invaluable chance to meet working professionals and to make important contacts for the future. The aims of work-based learning and work placements are to enable students to: experience real working environments, acquire a professional outlook and build contacts for their future careers. If you are able to offer work experience within your organisation, please get in touch. Supported Internships A supported internship is a structured study programme enabling young people aged 16-24 with an Education, Health and Care plan to develop the skills they need for sustainable paid employment through learning in the workplace. Supported internships – lasting 32 weeks – are unpaid and aim to support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme. A supported intern will complete a personalised study programme alongside their employment placement – offering the chance to study for relevant substantial qualifications and, if appropriate, English and Maths. If you are interested in becoming part of our growing employer bank please contact gaynor_howlett@weymouth.ac.uk / 01305 764822 to register your interest.
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Independent Advice and Guidance/ Careers At Weymouth College our Careers Advice and Guidance Team are here to help all our students with planning their career future. Our professionally qualified team of careers advisors will support students with advice and guidance: • before they come to College • whilst they are at College • when they leave and take their next steps. If a student is unsure of their career path and don’t know if a course, an apprenticeship or employment is the right next step for them after college – the team will help to identify and consider their options so they can make the right career decision for the future. 14 www.weymouth.ac.uk
External Hire The College has a range of professional meeting and functions rooms which are available for private hire. To find out more about availability and prices contact 01305 208709.
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Cranford Avenue | Weymouth | Dorset | DT4 7LQ 01305 761100 www.weymouth.ac.uk facebook.com/weymouthcollegeemployerservices @CollegeWeymouth weymouthcollegeapprenticeships
