Helen Dickinson’s Post

**CIPD report – ‘Youth apprenticeships and the case for a flexible skills levy.’** 📜 A report published today by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has revealed that the number of overall apprentices in the UK has dropped, especially among younger people. 📉 The report has called for reform to the existing Apprenticeship Levy to enhance employer investment in skills 💷 and boost opportunities for young people to secure apprenticeships that lead to quality employment. Today’s findings highlight the struggles retailers face on a day to day basis when attempting to upskill their workforce. The inflexible nature of the Apprenticeship Levy means that approximately half of retail’s £250 million contribution to the Levy pot goes unspent. 💰 Government must #BuyIntoRetail and reform the Levy so that retailers can upskill a workforce that makes up almost 20% of UK employment. Read the report in full here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eyFUHp3P

CIPD calls for 'apprenticeship guarantee' : a CIPD report has outlined recommendations for a more flexible levy and the introduction of an Apprenticeship Guarantee for young people to rebalance financial subsidies towards younger apprentices. CIPD research shows UK employer investment in training continues to decline and overall apprenticeship numbers have dropped, especially for young people who most benefit from and need apprenticeships. Working with Youth Futures Foundation, this report calls for a reform of the existing Apprenticeship Levy to enhance employer investment in skills and boost opportunities for young people to secure apprenticeships that lead to quality employment. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eyFUHp3P

The new Government has committed to reform the Apprenticeship Levy (introduced under the Conservatives in 2017) to allow businesses to use a to-be-determined portion of the levy pot on other skills training, through a new ‘Growth and Skills Levy’. This is a central part of the Government’s cross-departmental skills strategy and its Growth and Opportunity Missions. Designed well, and with the necessary accompanying reforms, the Growth and Skills Levy has the potential to support a wider apprenticeships system that works far better for businesses large and small and their employees, and unlocks opportunities for young people. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/ejrjzaFZ

Earlier this week, I had the honour of leading the Second Reading of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer for Functions etc) Bill. This government’s first mission is to grow the economy, which is why we are moving ahead to establish Skills England, in part via this Bill. A skills system fit for the future will enable people to learn the skills they need to seize opportunity, and businesses to access the skills in the workforce they need to grow. If we are to meet the skills gaps that persist in our economy we must address the fragmentation in our skills system. The Bill is a crucial step towards creating a skills system fit for the future – enabling our growth and opportunity missions to deliver better life chances for all. We need skills to get the NHS back on its feet, and to drive our efforts to become a Clean Energy Superpower and transform the way our society functions will also depend on having the right workforce for the future. Skills England will provide a clear assessment of national and regional skills needs, and ensure there is a comprehensive suite of apprenticeships, training and technical qualifications available. It will work with combined authorities and regional organisations to ensure skills needs are met. It will also connect employers, trade unions, colleges, universities and other providers to make sure that opportunities are there for everybody to get on in life. https://lnkd.in/e6A8M4VT

We asked you earlier this month: is Labour doing enough to support apprenticeships? Here’s how you responded 👇 We weren’t surprised to see that 38% of respondents said they would ‘Wait and see’ before giving any verdict on the current government’s support levels, with 13% believing they are heading in the right direction. 50% of you, however, said a straight up ‘No’, while none said ‘Yes’. So far, Labour have announced the replacement of the ‘unfit for purpose’ apprenticeship levy with a more flexible new growth levy, as well as proposing a Skills Guarantee for all young adults between 18-21. Yet it’s too early to tell exactly what impact those measures will have – and if they will be positive. Expanding the levy to wider forms of training could reduce the number of apprentices, giving employers the option to spend their funding on other skills development. It might be good news for employers, but will it be as beneficial to those in education as a traditional apprenticeship? Like the rest of the EPA industry, we’ll be watching to see what happens next for apprenticeships under labour. In the meantime, thank you for sharing your thoughts! 

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) need your views. The research will inform potential future reform of the Apprenticeship Levy system, which has been the subject of much debate in the sector. If you are a Greater Manchester tech employer, GMCA wants your views on the apprenticeship levy and attitudes toward reform to inform their policy-making on the issue. The aim is to inform a regional pilot based on what could work better for employers. The survey will take between 2-5 minutes to complete, and your responses would be greatly appreciated. Please could you submit your responses by Friday, 12th July 2024. Apprenticeship Levy Reform Survey: https://buff.ly/4bIG1xv

Yet another report showing the desperate need to reform the apprenticeship levy, this time from CIPD, showing: 📉 a drop in apprenticeships - particularly in young people (though apprenticeships aren't *just* for young people - this drop is still worrying) 📉 reducing spend on trainees 🔮 rebadging existing training as apprenticeships ❌ worries about quality, with low compliance and low completion rates 😕 a proliferation of standards (double that of Germany!) https://lnkd.in/eKS5SnUK

Apprenticeships are the future of UK businesses - and the Levy is making sure they are supported. The Apprenticeship Levy requires employers with an annual wage bill over £3m to pay 0.5% of that bill to the government, with smaller businesses able to benefit through the Co-investment Scheme. #GetSkilled #InvestInTraining #EmpowerUKWorkers

So…..What’s the future for apprenticeships with a new government at the dispatch box? The new government aims to tackle unemployment among 18-21-year-olds by guaranteeing access to apprenticeships, training, or job support. Their Key initiatives include: Skills England: A new body to ensure training meets labour market needs by collaborating with businesses, unions, and government agencies. Growth and Skills Levy: Replacing the Apprenticeship Levy will allow businesses more flexibility in spending funds on various training courses. Immediate Training: Faster approval for new training programs to meet immediate demands. According to the government, these changes promise more apprenticeship opportunities and significant support for businesses and young people.

Balancing act: Youth apprenticeships and the case for a flexible skills levy This report outlines recommendations for a more flexible levy and the introduction of an Apprenticeship Guarantee for young people to rebalance financial subsidies towards younger apprentices Useful reading for CMBEs who are involved in apprenticeship provision at members of the Chartered Association of Business Schools in the UK. https://lnkd.in/eyFUHp3P