Apprenticeships Employer Guide by Wiltshire College & University Centre

APPRENTICESHIPS Employer Guide

APPRENTICESHIPS FOR BUSINESS What is an apprenticeship? An apprenticeship is a paid work placement that provides practical on-the-job training. Sometimes in combination with classroombased study, apprenticeships give learners a first step into a career. Traditional apprenticeships involve learning a craft and being trained by a skilled practitioner, while apprenticeships today typically permit school leavers to develop academic qualifications while being trained in a profession. Wiltshire College currently offers 93 apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 6 in more than 30 different occupational areas. Typically lasting between 12 months to four years, depending on the level and industry area, businesses of all sizes can recruit an apprentice or upskill their current employees through an apprenticeship. All employers who take on an apprentice between 16–18 years of age are entitled to the young persons grant of £1000 to help meet additional training costs.

degree level apprenticeships, your business can now access higher-level technical skills, vital to the performance and growth of your business. How do they work? Most of the training is on-the-job, working with a mentor to learn job specific skills in the workplace. Off-the-job training will depend on the occupational area. The training may be delivered in the workplace, through ‘day release’ or at premises away from the working environment. What is a degree apprenticeship? Higher and degree apprenticeships are available at levels 4 to 7. They combine work with study and may include a work-based, academic or combined qualification, or a professional qualification relevant to the industry. Typically, higher apprentices study part-time at college, university or with a training provider and can take between one and five years to complete.

Up-skilling your workforce Apprenticeships are a proven way of creating a more efficient and skilled workforce. They provide employers with the opportunity to attract new talent, offer progression and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce which helps to improve economic productivity. An apprenticeship addresses your skills gaps directly and provides access to practical skills. In fact, with the increase of higher and 3

APPRENTICESHIP LEVELS Type

Level

Equivalent Educational Level

Intermediate

5 GCSE passes at grade A*– C or 9 – 4

Advanced

2 A level passes/Level 3 Diploma/International Baccalaureate

Higher

4, 5, 6, 7

Foundation degree and above

Degree

6, 7

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

JAMIE GAY

Chef de Partie Apprentice When Jamie Gay started his career in catering, he couldn’t have dreamed that within a few years he would be working for a Michelin star chef. The 18-year-old apprentice has been working as a trainee chef at the Red Lion pub in East Chisenbury since September alongside owner Guy Manning and said: “I couldn’t not take this amazing opportunity and even though I’ve only been here a short amount of time, it has been fantastic!” Jamie joined Wiltshire College straight from school in 2015, Where he studied the Level 1 and 2 courses in Professional Cookery. He said: “I really enjoyed my time at the Trowbridge campus. I learned so many skills and

being able to work in the White Horse Restaurant was an added bonus as it gave me real life experience.” Alongside his course, Jamie worked at his local pubThe Kings Arms in All Cannings, working with different chefs, which he believes is a positive in the catering industry. “Every chef has their own way and that was one of my reasons for wanting to do an apprenticeship, so that I could work with a different chef as well as further the knowledge I learned on the Level 1 and 2 courses,” he said. A typical day for Jamie, who is studying a Chef de Partie Advanced Apprenticeship through the College, begins at 7.30am when he will check the orders, make stocks and help the other chefs in the kitchens. Jamie said: “The hours for a chef are long, so it needs to be something you love doing like I do, but Guy has shown me the importance of preparation, which is absolutely critical. We are almost working two days in advance here.” Guy and his wife Brittany, who is a pastry chef, have been running the pub for the past nine years, and were thrilled that he was awarded a Michelin star in 2013, which they have retained ever since. Guy said: “I want perfection but you never stop learning and that’s what makes it interesting. That’s why I want to help train the next generation of chefs. It is definitely an investment of my time, I’m teaching him but it is also very rewarding and Jamie has a great attitude.”

APPRENTICESHIPS MAKE GREAT BUSINESS SENSE

81%

of consumers favourÂ businesses who employ apprentices

88%

of apprentice employers believe apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce

80%

of apprentice employers feel apprenticeships have reduced the amount of staff turnover

81%

of apprentice employers say apprenticeships have boosted productivity in the workplace

EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILTIES By employing an apprentice, employers have certain requirements to meet: ● Employers are required to give their apprentice an induction into their role and provide on the job training ● They are responsible for paying their apprentice’s wages and issuing their contract of employment ● An apprenticeship agreement between the employer and the apprentice must be in place ● Employers must allow assessment visits to take place in the workplace at least every 12 weeks, including a review with both the apprentice and their manager ● All apprentices must receive the same benefits as other employees 8

● Apprentices aged 16–18, or in the first year of their apprenticeship, must be paid the Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage of £3.70 per hour. All other apprentices are entitled to the following: Year

25+

April 2018 £7.83

21–24

18–20

Under 18 Apprentice

£7.38

£5.90

£4.20

£3.70

● The minimum hours of employment for an apprentice should be at least 30 hours per week. By exception, where the individual’s circumstances or particular nature of employment in a given sector makes this impossible, then an absolute minimum of 16 hours must be met. In such cases the duration of the apprenticeship should be extended

OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING Off-the-job training is learning which is undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working environment, leading towards the achievement of an apprenticeship. This can include training delivered at the apprentice’s normal place of work, but must not be delivered as part of their normal working duties. Employers must ensure that off-the-job training amounts to 20% of the apprentice’s contracted employment hours across the whole apprenticeship. For example: if an employee is on a two-year apprenticeship and has an employment contract of 7 hours x 5 days x 52 weeks x 2 years, then this is equal to 3640 contracted hours. The minimum 20% off-the-job training would therefore be 644 hours (equivalent to one day per working week). Relevant training Any off-the-job training undertaken by the apprentice, must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship framework or standard and can include the following: ● The teaching of theory: lecturers, role playing, simulation exercises, online learning and manufacturer training ● Practical training: shadowing, mentoring, industry visits and attendance at competitions ● Learning support: time spent completing assessments and assignments

APPRENTICESHIP LEVY THE FACTS

How does it work? The Apprenticeship Levy is part of the Government’s plan to help fund a further three million new apprenticeships by 2020. Large employers (with a payroll of over £3million per annum, regardless of whether they already employ apprentices or not) across all industries are required to contribute to the new Apprenticeship Levy.

The Levy applies to all large organisations with a payroll of over £3million per annum, regardless of whether they already employ apprentices or not.

If you are an employer with less than 50 employees, you will not be required to contribute towards training costs for 16-18-year-old apprentices

The Levy is payable by employers at the rate of 0.5% of the payroll cost through PAYE alongside income Tax and National Insurance.

NON LEVY PAYING BUSINESSES If you are an employer with less than 50 employees, you will not be required to contribute towards training costs for 16–18-year-old apprentices. If you employ an apprentice who is 19 years or over, you are required to pay 10% towards the cost of this training. Employers with a payroll of less than £3million per annum and 50 or more employees will pay a 10% contribution towards the costs of training apprentices.

Employers with a payroll of less than £3million per annum employing 50 or more employees will pay a 10% contribution towards the costs of training apprentices.

Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy are able to allocate their Levy contributions as digital training vouchers. Employers can spend their digital vouchers within 24 months. Visit gov.uk/guidance/payapprenticeship-levy for more information

JOSEPH WHITE IT Apprentice

Apprenticeships are a valuable step into a career in any given field and are great for business. Offering an opportunity to prove their dedication to working and learning, apprentices benefit employers like Avon Rubber plc by bringing fresh new talent to the business and developing a highly motivated and skilled workforce.

The Melksham-based company, which specialises in designing, testing and manufacturing respiratory protection systems and milking point solutions, is a firm advocate of apprenticeships and currently employs six apprentices in Engineering, IT, Leadership and Management, Sales and Marketing and Business Administration. Sid Hayden who is responsible for facilitating the

"I SEE APPRENTICES AS THE FUTURE OF THE BUSINESS AND WANT THEM TO GROW WITHIN OUR COMPANY."

company’s levy project, is also a firm believer of apprenticeships said: “I see apprentices as the future of the business and want them to grow within our company.” “Apprenticeships allow us to mould and guide our apprentices’ way of working to fit within our business.” Joseph White, a 19-year-old Level 4 HNC IT apprentice at Avon Rubber plc, said: “After finishing my Level 2 and 3 IT courses at Wiltshire College, a higher apprenticeship was a great opportunity for me to further my education and my career prospects, especially working within a global business.”

Since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in May 2017, Avon Rubber plc has gained access to funding to support them in recruiting or upskilling existing employees through an apprenticeship. As a levy paying business, Sid commented: “This has really kickstarted adult learning and we have existing employees now carrying out higher level apprenticeships. “Apprentices are a breath of fresh air and we will be looking to take on more in all areas of the business, I would 100 per cent recommend apprenticeships to any levy paying businesses.” Avon Rubber plc praised the College and Training Consultant Brian Dobbin: "the whole process of enrolling Joseph on to his apprenticeship was made simple and straightforward, and we found them a pleasure to deal with."

Under the company’s recognition program CREED, employees are rewarded for exceptional standards of work or going the extra mile. Joseph has already received three nominations from his peers, making a great start to his apprenticeship and is extremely well thought of by his colleagues.

RECRUITMENT We offer a free apprenticeship recruitment service to help employers find the apprentices best suited to their needs. Using the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and College website to advertise apprenticeship vacancies, we will also

promote vacancies on various social media platforms, and engage directly with local schools and college students. Apprentices can also be current employees who wish to improve their skills.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Employer completes a vacancy description form

Apprenticeship team posts the vacancy on the NAS and Wiltshire College websites as well as social media platforms

Apprenticeship team shortlists suitable candidates to forward on to the employer

Employer interviews candidates for job suitability

Candidates are invited in for Individual Assessment (Maths, English and ICT) and programme suitability 15

0845 345 2235 APPRENTICESHIPS@WILTSHIRE.AC.UK APPLY ONLINE AT WILTSHIRE.AC.UK