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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.
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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.
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 • enrol apprentices • advertise roles on the ‘find an apprenticeship’ service (the college can also assist with this service) • approve training costs • check payments to training providers • give training providers permission to carry out some tasks on your behalf • 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.
