MCFT’s Post

Good to hear directly from the new interim chair of Skills England, Richard Pennycook CBE this afternoon along with officials in (Shadow) Skills England, which builds on our meeting a couple of weeks ago as a key stakeholder. The three priorities of Skills England we heard again today specifically were: 1) To develop a coherent single authoritative picture of what national and local skills needs the country requires over the next decade. 2) To develop a highly responsive training system, part of which is that Skills England will hold a list of eligible training that can be funded through the Growth and Skills Levy. 3) To ensure that national and regional skills systems work together effectively to meet those skills needs. Underpinning this also is working closely with key stakeholders like AELP to identify system issues and challenges to create a feedback loop to the DfE to address policy issues to enable a more coherent system. The formal process of setting up an arms-length body to gain approval from HMT and the Cabinet Office has now started. The Skills England Bill has started the process of transferring the legislative powers of the IfATE over to Skills England – an ambitious target to have all this completed by April 2025. ... it has never been a more important time to be a member of AELP to understand, prepare and help influence the changing further education landscape! Next week I’ll be chairing a session with the DfE Policy Team on the Growth and Skills Levy, sponsored by our patron OneFile – this complimentary session is open to non-members, 500+ have registered so far. More on that here: https://lnkd.in/er5F-zC8 AELP will be running a special ‘CEO Summer Spotlight’ webinar on Thursday 29 August where Ben Rowland will bring all of this together to set out developments on Skills England, the Growth and Skills Levy as well as what might be coming in the autumn budget and critical Comprehensive Spending Review. More on this one coming imminently... #AskAshworth #SkillsEngland #Apprenticeships #GrowthAndSkillsLevy #Flexibilities #SkillsMeansGrowth

🎉🎉🎉🎉 A great result for the WELL team on our achievement of the Matrix Standard 👏 👏👏 #quality #Teamwork #IAG #Apprenticeship #learners #employer #relationships #bespoketraining #commercialtraining

Is training stretching your budget? It doesn’t have to! Unlock 100% funded apprenticeships through the Levy Share scheme. MBKB makes it easy—guiding you to fully-funded programs in Leadership, HR, Payroll, and beyond. Ready to grow without the cost? Let’s chat! 📈 Jack@mbkbgroup.com 📧  #LevyShare #MBKB #EmpowerYourTeam #TeamGrowth #FreeTraining 

The new Government's Skills England body is raising obvious questions about the future of the CITB and our skills crisis. I have not softened my view that an ITB approach to developing industry skills is not fit for a modern economy - a view substantiated by our skills crisis showing no sign of reversal. Latest research shows that a growing majority of the industry are hoping that our tax levy for both apprenticeships and the CITB will be reviewed. We are not getting return on investment within our businesses. My advice to Government would be to uphold the review that has been ongoing regarding the future of the CITB, and use Skills England as a catalyst for change. My concern is that they will look at Construction and simply say 'we already have something in place, lets move on'. But if we want to see results, we need to demand measurable change. Measurable using the right metrics - not vanity metrics! According to the CITB's own figures we need 250,000 more people in our industry to deliver our pipeline. If an ITB cannot help us reach these numbers, they need to free up the levy so we can invest in our own businesses' efforts to lead change. #construction #skills #infrastructure

Here at KnowledgeBrief we often hear people ask the question, 'What funding is available to me?'    Funding your Apprenticeship is far more accessible than most people are led to believe.    To put it simply: → If your organisation’s annual wage bill is over £3 million, then each month when you process payroll you pay into the Apprenticeship Levy, meaning all of our programmes are fully funded by your levy pot. → If your organisation doesn't pay into the levy, then we still have funding available to you. The Government will invest 95% of the costs for your programme, leaving only 5% outstanding. The investment is 100% funded for individuals aged 16-21.   Putting this into context, access to £13,300 of government funding is readily available for our fantastic Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship.   The value of investing in coaching and leadership training through your Apprenticeship Levy cannot be understated. Chartered Management Institute has stated that ‘82% of workers entering management positions have not had any formal management and leadership training, adding to the UK’s stock of “accidental managers.”’ The opportunity to upskill your leadership and management teams not only aids the growth of your business, but also encourages confidence in both leaders and teams.    Work smart, not hard! Invest in your business and employees by utilising the funding options available to you. For more information, take a look at our funding page ↓ https://lnkd.in/eMtjzfW2 #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipTraining #Management #ManagementDevelopment #ManagementTraining #LeadershipApprenticeship #Apprenticeships #ManagementApprenticeship #CoachingApprenticeship #Coaching #ApprenticeshipLevy #Apprenticeship #Levy

📌If you haven't already mapped out how you'll be learning, developing, and growing your skills and your #career in 2025, NOW IS THE TIME. Take advantage of the upcoming GBTA Academy education and #certification opportunities developed to help you forge a successful career in #businesstravel, build a supporting network, and achieve recognition and advancement. https://lnkd.in/gtGvEPXg #professionaldevelopment #growthmindset #travelmanager

FCSA Apprenticeship Levy Network: £4.3m Pledged – Act Now With £4.3m already pledged in the FCSA Apprenticeship Levy Network, £3.5m is still available to help you upskill your workforce or take on new apprentices. But hurry—if these funds aren’t used, they could be lost to HMRC. This is a valuable opportunity to invest in your team’s growth while utilising unused apprenticeship levy funds. Find out more today and secure your share before it’s gone! https://lnkd.in/eUc5AKwb #ApprenticeshipLevy #WorkforceDevelopment #Upskilling #Apprenticeships #FCSA #HMRC

A MASSIVE congratulations from all of us CROSBY MANAGEMENT TRAINING LTD to Matthew Pearson from StepChange Debt Charity on gaining a DISTINCTION in his EPA assessment for his Level 3 Learning and Development Practitioner Apprenticeship. 👏 His CIPD assessor gave him some lovely feedback and included: "You met the standards for all the components and distinction criteria showing particular strengths in your research and analysis skills to ensure you designed and delivered a comprehensive learning solution covering the foundations of instructional design. You referenced a large amount of learning theories and provided very good evidence for how these were integrated into your learning solution and that it delivered real and measurable business results and benefits. You demonstrated a depth of understanding and insight during the discussion to evidence skills and knowledge beyond a typical L3 student – well done!" Matthew has recognised the impact of the apprenticeship: "I have worked in Learning & Development for over five years now, and several of these years I struggled with imposter syndrome. There was this constant feeling that I didn’t know what I was doing and that all my successes were a combination of chance good fortune and the “halo effect”. Therefore, my main reason for wanting to complete an apprenticeship was to boost not only my knowledge and skills but also increase my confidence. Completing an apprenticeship alongside working full time is no easy task and I have definitely felt the pressure at different times throughout the past 20 months. Whilst this has been very difficult at times, I have consistently been able to rely on the support of both Crosby and my employer; in this sense, I consider my completion of the apprenticeship as much a success for them as it is for myself. I have gained everything that I wanted by completing this apprenticeship, in that I am more knowledgeable, capable, and (most importantly) confident. To achieve a final grade of “distinction” is one of the greatest accomplishments of my career, I finally feel like I have earned the title of Learning & Development Practitioner. Thank you to Sarah Stocks. Chartered MCIPD, FLPI 🟡🟢🔴🔵 Stocks, CROSBY MANAGEMENT TRAINING LTD and StepChange Debt Charity for all their help and support in getting me here. I couldn’t have done it without you". I have really enjoyed working with you and I will miss you! It has been a real privilege to see your growth in confidence whilst on programme! I am looking forward to see you continue your journey in L&D! 🙌 #Learninganddevelopment #apprenticeships

Grow with Confidence! Merit Apprenticeship Alliance offers NCCER-accredited programs that meet New York State DOL requirements, helping construction contractors secure government bids. Our training equips your workforce with the skills necessary for success in the industry. Our programs are meticulously designed to ensure that your workforce is not only compliant with state regulations but also excels in the field. The NCCER accreditation is a mark of quality and reliability, making your business more attractive to potential clients and government entities. By investing in our training, you are future-proofing your business against the ever-evolving demands of the construction industry. We provide hands-on training and real-world applications, ensuring that your team is prepared for any challenge they might face on the job. This practical approach enhances skill retention and application, making your workforce more efficient and productive. Our support doesn't end with training; we offer ongoing assistance to help you stay ahead of industry trends and regulatory changes. Navigating government contracts can be daunting, but with our expertise, you can approach this process with confidence. We guide you through the bid process, ensuring that your proposals meet all necessary specifications and stand out from the competition. This strategic advantage can significantly increase your success rate in securing contracts. In addition to skill development, our programs foster a culture of continuous improvement within your organization. This not only boosts employee morale and retention but also drives innovation and growth. A well-trained, motivated workforce is key to achieving long-term business success. By partnering with Merit Apprenticeship Alliance, you are choosing a pathway to sustained growth and excellence. Let us help you unlock your business's full potential and achieve new heights. Visit meritalliance.org to learn more! #BusinessConfidence #GovernmentBids #SkilledWorkforce #NCCERAccredited #NYDOL

Our Q4 performance report is here – highlighting how CITB is helping build the pipeline of talent for the construction industry. Key highlights include: 💰 £263m total investment in industry for 2023-24 🧱 29,438 learners supported with apprenticeship grants 👷 105% increase in taster opportunities available ⏫ 12% increase in CITB training support accessed by employers 📈 28% increase in SkillBuild competitors Read more in the full report ➡️ https://bit.ly/3gx7pIu #CITB