Organisations should approach apprenticeship levy as an investment, not a tax
This is an interview with David Willett, Director of Corporate Sales at The Open University. TrainingZone has worked with The Open University to produce a whitepaper on Higher and Degree Apprenticeships for organisations that want to make the most of the apprenticeship levy. It’s free and available to download now. Jamie Lawrence, Managing Editor, HRZone.com: What’s […]
The Apprenticeship Levy: a radical reform of the UK skills map
Think of it as a skills levy, not an Apprenticeship Levy, argues Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Managing Director of City & Guilds Group. There’s no beating about the bush. To say that apprenticeships have had a rough ride over the past twelve months is nothing short of an understatement. But the there is no doubt that they […]
Using apprenticeships as a model for work-based learning
This is an interview with Jane Daly, Head of Strategic Insights at Towards Maturity, and was conducted off the back of the release of Towards Maturity’s free new report, In-Focus: The Work-Based Learning Dividend. Jamie Lawrence, Managing Editor, TrainingZone: How can we use apprenticeships as a model for effective work-based learning? Jane Daly, Head of Strategic […]
Management apprenticeships: how can you get leaders on board?
The apprenticeship levy is not just here to assist employees in the early stages of their career. It also provides opportunities for subsidised leadership and management development through management apprenticeships to benefit the more experienced. However, over a year after its launch, many leaders are still struggling to get to grips with the levy. How can […]
What do apprenticeships in 2018 look like?
Apprenticeships are having a bit of a moment. Gone are the days when being an apprentice meant leaving your home and living alongside your master mentor. Now they are a mix of practical skills, qualifications and work experience. Yet apprenticeships, in a form that we’d recognise today, have existed since the later Middle Ages when […]
In-Tray activity
Hi, I’m looking for a modern up to date in-tray activity that I can use as part of my Apprenticeship Assessment Centre. I’m be really grateful if anyone can offer advice of where I might find a really good one specifically focussing on the IT industry. Regards Hi,I’m looking for a modern up to date in-tray activity […]
3 ways to solve ‘talentmageddon’
Top-quality talent is becoming harder to find and, as I’ve written before, the talent crunch shows no signs of easing. Right now, British businesses are heading straight for ‘talentmageddon’. Many companies are embracing innovative solutions. Andrew Nisbet, founder of Nisbets, is an advocate of tapping into local talent pools, highlighting the role that family businesses can play […]
How apprenticeships can drive digital transformation in your organisation
Apprenticeships could bridge the digital skills gap and help drive transformation in your business. Don’t miss out on this trick. Digital transformation is a strategic imperative for many businesses today. According to research conducted by Deloitte in partnership with MIT, more than 70% of companies are transforming their products and services into digital businesses. And they […]
Getting women into leadership with training
Research conducted by the Chartered Management Institute and XpertHR reveals that men are more likely to be promoted to a senior management position with higher pay, than women. The high profile and widely documented recent reports of women being paid significantly less than their male counterparts, highlights that more needs to be done to close […]
Training can solve the ‘talent crunch’
Hiring and retaining talent has always been near the top of the business agenda. But with UK unemployment at a 43-year low and an ever-increasing skills shortage, employers are beginning to feel the effects on their bottom line. Sectors including technology, engineering, manufacturing and construction are all feeling the pinch. But competition for talent is […]
Trends shaping team leadership and management
With advancements in technology and evolving working patterns, we are witnessing a fundamental shift in the way organisations are operating and how team leaders and managers are running teams. In order to keep up to date with evolving working patterns, organisations need to be aware of the trends shaping team leadership and management. Rise in […]
Apprenticeship numbers in massive fall after levy introduction
The number of people starting apprenticeships has fallen significantly. In the last three months of the 2017 academic year, 48,000 people started an apprenticeship. This is down from 117,000 for the same period last year. The fall comes after the government introduced the apprenticeship levy earlier in the year, which was designed to make apprenticeships […]
Apprenticeship levy opportunity for housing sector
Strong leaders hold the key to realising the potential opportunities and benefits from the Apprenticeship Levy to the UK’s housing sector and its workforce. The Levy brings significant opportunities for the housing sector to embrace workforce development and harness and develop talent in the workplace, and if housing sector leaders are supported in understanding the […]
Investing in leadership development is invaluable
Developing leadership and management expertise and skills is an investment no business should overlook. Companies and organisations, big and small, operate more efficiently and are generally more successful when led by an effectual management team. Well-trained managers help boost morale and set clear objectives, aiding company success, amongst a whole host of other profitable benefits. […]
History and context: the changing face of apprenticeships
At their heart, apprenticeships are about combining working, learning and earning. This is an attractive combination for both individuals and employers, which is why they have been around for hundreds of years. However, in this time they have changed significantly and will continue to evolve in the years ahead. Richard Marsh, from Kaplan, explores the […]
Apprenticeships – what you need to know
The apprenticeship system in England is currently going through its biggest change in decades. With new employer-led apprenticeship standards available and the government’s apprenticeship levy due to start in April 2017, there has never been a better time to use apprenticeships to build the talent and skills in your business. If you want to make […]
Are apprenticeships the way to create a truly meritocratic education system?
Educational inequality is on the rise in Britain. The Sutton Trust recently found that the achievement gap in the UK is substantially larger today than it was for children born 40-60 years ago, while a report published last year by Unicef ranked the UK 25th out of 37 countries for inequality when it comes to […]
NVQ and Apprenticeship providers
Hi, Does anyone know of any national NVQ and Apprenticeship providers who offer fully funded courses? I am looking for NVQ level 2 Retail skills and Customers service and Apprenticeship in Retail Management. Thanks in advance for your help. Karen Hi,Does anyone know of any national NVQ and Apprenticeship providers who offer fully funded […]
Teenagers given second chance to start tech career
I was recently invited to a very special event, at Microsoft's head office in Reading, Berkshire, where teenagers from the Thames Valley were 'graduating' from a traineeship programme, at a celebration ceremony. The young people at the event had either been plucked out of their bedrooms, from being unemployed, or had decided that working in […]
How to Get Smart about the Apprenticeship Levy
Earlier this month the Government released long-awaited further proposals for the Apprenticeship Levy, and confirmed that it will be implemented in April 2017. Whilst this has provided some useful further insight for business leaders, many are anxious to see what impact the Apprenticeship Levy will have on them. Employers with a paybill of £3 million […]
