It is (not) business as usual for careers advice under the new government
The ascension of Theresa May to the highest office in the land presents a real opportunity to inject some energy in to the previous government’s skills policies. Despite pledging to create an unprecedented 3 million new apprenticeships by 2020, the Government Careers Strategy has been severely delayed and policies such as the Apprenticeship Levy […]
Strengthening the route to apprenticeships
It is less than 12 months until the introduction of the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy, and there are still a great deal of unknowns. Employers are still unclear about how they can maximise the financial opportunities it may offer. The aim is to make hiring apprentices more systematic, and ultimately to help meet the Government’s target […]
How to get the best value from apprenticeships
Employers increasingly view apprenticeships as a rich source of future talent; securing the right candidate gives an organisation young learners who they can nurture into keen and loyal staff, eager to learn new skills from day one. In fact, the value of an apprentice’s lifetime contribution to a company has been placed at £105,000 by researchers at […]
Internship Training contract agreement. Need help before I’m forced to sign.
Hello all, I'm hoping someone will be able to help me with this issue. I graduated University in 2015 and found a job working in a field that really looked like it was going to help me get into a career I would love. I applied for the job under the title 'Graphic Design Internship'. […]
The brain hack boosting apprenticeship learning
With all the good news stories from National Apprenticeship Week and the Chancellor’s Budget announcement of a 10 per cent top-up for employers in England to spend on apprenticeships, the outlook for this form of learning remains positive. Popular since the Middle Ages for their blend of on-the-job training and study, apprenticeships still offer a […]
“Mainstream education doesn’t work for everyone.”
This is an interview with Rosi Prescott, CEO, Central YMCA, one of the UK's leading health and fitness charities. The Central YMCA was also the world's first YMCA. The YMCA is a worldwide movement, founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London. The national YMCA organisations, made up of the local organisations, are part […]
Apprenticeships: Common myths explained
Kelly Ball explains why apprenticeship schemes are a great career path, and talks through the common myths of apprenticeships. It’s no secret that many industries are facing a skills shortage. In fact, a recent survey by merchant bank Close brothers showed 31% of UK SMEs said their workforce lacked the skills needed by their business. […]
Do employers expect too much of young people?
Hello all, I've worked with young people for the last 20 plus years. I was last on Training Zone about three years ago and, one of my final Blog posts (before I went off to record my difficult second album!) was around business folk bemoaning the fact that young people leaving school were not "work ready". Lo and […]
How apprenticeships can open the door to success
In the last few years, apprenticeships have been backed by the Government as a cost-effective, credible response to the demand for a highly-skilled UK workforce in an increasingly competitive global market. They have made apprenticeships available to more businesses, as the Skills Funding Agency has supported 20,000 higher apprenticeships in the last year and the […]
The history of learning and development: 1990-present
The past 25 years From 1990 up until today there have been some fairly radical changes in both the way people learn and the way businesses approach L&D in the workforce. With emerging technologies and a burgeoning interest in the more person-centred approach to training, L&D has come a long way from the days of the […]
The history of learning and development: 1950-1989
After the surge in demand for training that occurred throughout the early part of the 20th century, there was a change in focus post-war. The economic and social changes that occurred from 1950-1989 had a significant effect on the direction on L&D. From the end of the war to the end of the 80s there was a noticeable […]
10 Things SME’s Should Know About Apprenticeships
More young people than ever before are considering apprenticeships, with over 54% looking at it as their first choice. However, not enough SME’s are aware of the benefits apprenticeships can bring. From increased productivity, staff morale and investing in a future workforce, we can bring you 10 reasons why your business should think about hiring […]
What does the apprenticeship levy mean for employers?
As we await the outcome of the Government consultation on the proposed apprenticeship levy, Darren Maw examines what the levy will mean for employers. The Conservative Government has undertaken to deliver 3m apprenticeships over the next five years. In order to achieve this ambitious target, the Government is placing the onus back on employers with […]
How to tackle apprenticeship snobbery
Training Manager Fay Gibbin currently oversees over 700 childcare, management and catering apprenticeships. Here, Fay offers her views on the value of apprenticeships and how to overcome the misconceptions surrounding vocational qualifications. During the General Election, the subject of apprenticeships and youth unemployment was a key topic, with party policies promising more support for those […]
The TrainingZone podcast: June 2015
On the podcast this month we interview ex-CEO of WebEx Subrah Iyar about tech innovation and his new company Moxtra, and Jamie Lawrence joins us again for a look at at some recent L&D and HR news. Links to the stories: Parents consider their children too clever for an apprenticeship, UK nations have biggest skills […]
L&D news round-up: 25 June
News time! Here are all the latest L&D, skills, HR and kangaroo-related stories from the last week. Spend apprenticeship funding ‘more effectively’ with training providers which identify demand, AELP urges government – FE Week As unemployment falls, businesses start feeling the pinch of the skills gap – Wales Online ‘Veterans’ skills often overlooked’ – BT Could HR […]
Why the Election shouldn’t change our focus on apprenticeships
As the country anticipates a new Government, Ian Beresford urges the people in power to keep focused on their apprenticeship strategy. Business has become a key battleground for politicians as a platform to flex their muscles leading up to the general election. The discussion has already featured high on the agenda as ballot box fever […]
Five reasons to take on a trainee
Introduced in 2013, traineeships are helping thousands of young people across England to become work-ready. Sue Husband outlines the role that small businesses in particular can play in unlocking the great potential of young people and underlines five reasons why they should consider taking on a trainee. Traineeships provide 16 – 24 year olds with […]
How to strengthen L&D among new employees
New hires starting at work? Read on for some L&D tips from Marcello Sambartolo. L&D professionals are increasingly being asked to support the recruitment function, helping to ensure that each new hire is equipped for success in his or her role. In order to streamline this process and ensure consistency across all departments, many organisations […]
Crafting a future of great apprenticeships
Apprenticeships ambassador Jason Holt gives us a few more reasons why they’re a more viable route into business than ever. Apprenticeships have been in existence for over 100 years now. In that time so many businesses have been fortified and revitalised by apprenticeships. However, while at the start of the 20th century, dressmaking, engineering and […]
