Apprenticeships and training options

Research suggests that 1.3 million people in work don't have the skills to do the job proficiently. These skills gaps are estimated to cost businesses £10 billion in lost revenue per year - that’s equivalent to £165,000 for a typical business with 50 employees.

Research also shows that effective training can help your business:

• Increase productivity
• Improve customer service skills
• Generate greater staff satisfaction and motivation
• Retain its staff

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for delivering the Government’s skills strategy in England and provides funding for training for employers including:

Apprenticeships

Train to Gain

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships can make your organisation more effective, competent, productive and competitive by addressing your skills gaps effectively. Apprenticeships are designed to help young employees reach a high level of competency and performance.

There are two different levels of Apprenticeship that are open to employees: the Apprenticeship and the Advanced Apprenticeship.

All Apprenticeships involve the following:

National Vocational Qualification:
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) recognise learning, and lead to competence in the work place. They range from basic work activities at Level 1 through to senior management at Level 5 and can lead to further qualifications.

Key Skills:
Key Skills are the essential skills that learners need to support them in their job. They include communication, numeracy and IT skills.

Technical Certificate:
Most Apprenticeships incorporate a technical certificate and an exam-based qualification, usually delivered by a learning provider either in the workplace or off-site. This provides the technical knowledge required for the job.

Delivery of training

Most of the training is on the job at your premises. The rest is provided by a local college or a training provider. Throughout the Apprenticeship a learning representative will be available to support and guide you to:

• Help you decide which Apprenticeship is right for you
• Explain the way Apprenticeships work and what funding is available
• Agree a training plan with you and your apprentice
• Manage the training and assessment.

Training Providers

Training Providers are organisations contracted by the LSC to provide work based training including Apprenticeships and NVQs. A training provider might be a further education college or an independent training company. They may also offer other types of development training which could be useful to your business, for example, short courses, mandatory industry qualifications or degrees/diplomas.

The Nottinghamshire Training Network (NTN) exists to support Nottinghamshire’s work based learning provider network. It consists of 45 training organisations including 7 colleges, 9 national training providers and 20 local training providers. The Network has an annual throughput of 11,000 learners, supporting over 6000 local businesses.

For more information about training providers in Nottinghamshire go to http://notts-training-network.co.uk or visit the ‘Apprenticeship Finder’ on Vacancies Online.

Programme Led Apprenticeships (PLAs)

PLAs are a type of Apprenticeship where candidates spend most of their time with a training provider.

During this initial period of training, which can vary in length, the candidates learn skills in their chosen subject which can make them more employable. This involves spending some of the training period at a work placement.

Each candidate is also supported by the training provider to find employment. Once employed, the Programme Led Apprenticeship then becomes a full Apprenticeship.

During the time spent training with the provider, candidates are able to claim Education Maintenance Allowance, if eligible. Candidates are then paid a wage by the employer once they have found employment. If you would like to find out more about the Programme Led Apprenticeship, or if you are able to offer a work placement to a candidate, contact the Learning and Skills Council for more information on 0845 019 4187.

Train to Gain

Train to Gain is a service run by the LSC to help businesses get the training they need to succeed. Independent and impartial skills brokers help employers find and fund training for their workers aged over 19 to meet their business objectives.

Any type or size of employer can use Train to Gain which provides:

• Identification of training needs
• Advice on eligibility for funding, including access to fully funded training e.g. Skills for Life, First level 2
• Help in sourcing suitable training provision

Train to Gain could also offer:

• £1000 grant for management and leadership training for small businesses only (20-249 employees).
• Support beyond Level 2 for priority sectors and for Apprenticeships, Foundation Degrees and Investors in People.

Five easy steps for great training:

Working closely with a highly experienced Train to Gain skills broker, you can provide quality and affordable training for your employees.

1. Identify the skills your business needs
2. Pinpoint the right training
3. Agree a tailored training package
4. Find available funding
5. Review the progress you’re making

For more information please contact Train to Gain on 0845 057 1817 or visit www.traintogain.gov.uk