UPSKILLING
EXISTING
EMPLOYEES

Changes in funding – Employers with a payroll of over £3 million per year must now pay an apprenticeship Levy which they can reinvest back into the workforce by enrolling their employees onto the new apprenticeship development programmes. Companies with an annual payroll of less than £3 million will only pay a 5% contribution to the costs of the new apprenticeships if they want to use them to develop their workforce. There are further funding benefits for those wanting to recruit and train a 16-18 year old.

Changes to eligibility and apprenticeship Levels – Apprenticeships are now available from level 2 (intermediate) to Level 7 (masters) and are accessible to all employees of all ages within the business structure, who require development, from trainees right up to the senior leadership team.

Changes to the apprenticeship design and structure – Apprenticeship programmes are now being redesigned by groups of employers called Trailblazer groups. The new programmes are called apprenticeship Standards, requiring Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours to be achieved in a specific occupational area. In many cases the employer groups are incorporating highly credible professional qualifications which cover the knowledge requirement of the programme making them a very attractive and cost effective way to develop the knowledge and skills of your workforce.

Changes to assessment methods – Apprenticeships are now end-point assessed by an independent organisation who is not the apprenticeship training provider, and have pass, merit, and distinction grading criteria. This has made them much more robust and credible and ensures that skills and knowledge gaps are tackled head on.