Paul Workman’s Post

Turn Your Unspent Levy into a Force for SME Growth. Every year, UK businesses miss out on over £2 billion in unspent apprenticeship levy funds, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face barriers to accessing the training they need. At The Bedford College Group, we believe that large businesses can make a tangible difference by unlocking these unused funds to support SME development and introducing more Apprenticeships across the South East Midlands region. Why This Matters: • Economic Impact: SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, accounting for 60% of employment. But many lack the resources to fund critical training that could fuel their growth and innovation. • Levy Expiry: If not used, levy funds expire after 24 months, meaning investment could go to waste. Redirecting those funds can help SMEs thrive, while maximising the return on a company contribution and the many lives. • Workforce Development: Helping SMEs to secure apprenticeships contributes to a stronger, more skilled workforce that benefits supply chain, industry, the local economy and the introduction of a diverse talent pool. How We Can Help: At Bedford College Group, we are dedicated to building partnerships that create real, lasting value. By collaborating with us, you can: • Transfer Your Unused Levy to help fund SME apprenticeships. • Support Tailored Apprenticeship Programmes that meet the specific needs of local industries, from construction to digital to engineering. • Strengthen Local Business Networks by investing in upskilling small businesses in your community and support your CSR strategy. We make the process simple—working with your team to seamlessly transfer funds, identify SME partners, and ensure the apprenticeship programmes deliver real benefits. Let’s make your unspent levy work harder, where it’s needed most. Contact me today to discuss how we can build a partnership that supports SME growth and maximises your levy. E: [email protected] #Apprenticeships #SMEGrowth #LevyTransfer #Upskilling #WorkforceDevelopment #EmployerPartnerships #FutureTalent #BusinessSupport #SkillsForGrowth #CorporateResponsibility #BedfordCollegeGroup #MaximizeYourLevy #UKBusiness #SMETraining #LocalEconomy Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP LIMITED

🔍 Industry Leaders discuss the new Labour government’s skills policy, and their new plans for the skills levy : 🎓 Gareth John (First Intuition): Hosted discussion on making apprenticeships more accessible 👩💼 Jane Gratton (British Chambers of Commerce): Calls for pre-apprenticeships & flexible learning 💡 Simon Ashworth (AELP): Highlights the need for program & funding flexibility 🏭 Faye Skelton (Make UK): Concerns about manufacturing apprenticeship decline 🏪 Paul Wilson (Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): Emphasises the importance of SME apprenticeship funding 💼 Robert West (CBI (Confederation of British Industry): Raises issue of funding bands not matching inflation 🤔 What changes do you think are most crucial for the new skills levy? Read their full article here: https://lnkd.in/eWKf94CF #SkillsLevy #Apprenticeships #Education

🔍 Industry Leaders discuss the new Labour government’s skills policy, and their new plans for the skills levy : 🎓 Gareth John (First Intuition): Hosted discussion on making apprenticeships more accessible 👩💼 Jane Gratton (British Chambers of Commerce): Calls for pre-apprenticeships & flexible learning 💡 Simon Ashworth (AELP): Highlights the need for program & funding flexibility 🏭 Faye Skelton (Make UK): Concerns about manufacturing apprenticeship decline 🏪 Paul Wilson (Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): Emphasises the importance of SME apprenticeship funding 💼 Robert West (CBI (Confederation of British Industry): Raises issue of funding bands not matching inflation 🤔 What changes do you think are most crucial for the new skills levy? Read their full article here: https://lnkd.in/eqMTW7xh #SkillsLevy #Apprenticeships #Education

☀️ What a positive way to start the week! 🌟 The sun is shining, and we have exciting news to share: Realise applauds the recent Government announcement outlining significant reforms to support businesses in delivering more apprenticeship places. As highlighted by the Rishi Sunak, these reforms mark a pivotal step towards empowering businesses and providing young people with invaluable opportunities to kick start their careers. 💬 Gregg Scott, CEO of Realise, remarked: “We welcome these progressive measures by the Government, which will undoubtedly facilitate greater access to apprenticeships for young people across various sectors. By fully funding apprenticeships for young people up to the age of 21 in small businesses from April 1st, and increasing the flexibility of the apprenticeship levy, the Government is not only alleviating financial burdens for businesses but also creating a more inclusive and dynamic environment for skills development.” Additionally, we welcome the further announcement where large employers who pay the apprenticeship levy will be able to transfer up to 50% of their funds to support other businesses, including smaller firms, to take on apprentices. This will help SMEs hire more apprentices by reducing costs and enabling more employers to get the skilled workers they need while unlocking more opportunities for young people in a huge range of sectors, industries, and professions. These reforms are particularly promising for sectors such as Early Years, where the recruitment of young talent is crucial for driving innovation and excellence. By removing barriers to training and enhancing funding opportunities, businesses in the Early Years sector can better invest in the next generation of skilled professionals, ensuring high-quality care and education for children. Realise is committed to supporting businesses in harnessing the full potential of apprenticeships to cultivate talent, foster growth, and contribute to a thriving economy. With an additional £60 million in government funding and increased flexibility in the apprenticeship levy, we anticipate a surge in apprenticeship opportunities, empowering young people to succeed in a diverse range of industries and professions. For more information on the reforms, including what it means for your business, reach out to us at [email protected]. #Apprenticeships #SkillsDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #YouthEmployment #GovernmentReforms #smebusiness #smesupport #levy

The upcoming 2024 election could bring major changes to the apprenticeship levy as we know it! With The Labour Party pledging increased flexibility for businesses, what does this mean for your organisation's learning and development strategy? 🗳️ Jo Bishenden, our Managing Director for Apprenticeships, explores the proposed "Growth and Skills Levy" reform and its potential impact in her latest blog post. Discover how this shift could unlock new opportunities for funded learning and skills development across your workforce. 🌟 🔗 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eyjpM7su #ThinkingAhead #LevyTransformation #GrowthandSkillsLevy

Skills England: A New Era for Apprenticeships and Skills Development The UK government’s launch of Skills England will introduce a significant reform in the apprenticeship levy system, designed to address the nation's skills gap and driving economic growth. A key component of this initiative is the enhanced flexibility in the use of levy funds, allowing businesses more freedom to invest in the specific training they need. By empowering businesses to tailor their training investments, Skills England seeks to create a more skilled domestic workforce, reducing reliance on overseas labour. With skills shortages having doubled between 2017 and 2022, Skills England is poised to play a pivotal role in enhancing national productivity and economic advancement. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said "The skills system we inherited is fragmented and broken. Employers want to invest in their workers but for too long have been held back from accessing the training they need. Skills England will jumpstart young people’s careers and galvanise local economies. It will bring businesses together with trade unions, mayors, universities, colleges and training providers to give us a complete picture of skills gaps nationwide, boost growth in all corners of the country and give people the opportunity to get on in life". For more information on Skills England, click here https://lnkd.in/e6jKTJDc To explore how Talent Vista can support your training needs and drive your business forward, visit our website www.talentvista.co.uk #TalentVistaLimited #TalentVistaTraining #UnlockPotential #LearningAndDevelopment #WorkplaceDevelopment #TrainingSolutions #eLearning #Apprenticeships #SkillsEngland

Find out more about the government's new #SkillsEngland initiative and how The BTA partner Talent Vista Limited can support your training needs and maximise your apprenticeship levy. ⤵️⤵️ #skillsengland #training #levy #apprenticeship #yourbta #thevoiceofbusinesstravel

Great news for small and medium businesses! The government has announced that from 1 April, they will cover the full cost of #apprenticeships for individuals aged 21 or under at small firms. And that's not all - larger companies who pay into the apprenticeship levy will also be able to share up to 50% of unspent funds with smaller businesses from 6 April. This presents a fantastic opportunity but will need greater #collaboration between #SMEs, local #colleges #schools and larger #companies to make a real difference in our local communities. The starting point is to raise #awareness and take #action - together, we can all help make a difference to create more apprenticeships, provide valuable training opportunities for young people and support smaller businesses. With larger companies reaching out to support smaller businesses, as part of the ‘Social’ in their #ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) strategy, this has the potential to be transformational in local communities. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/em5DKAFQ #SMEs #localcolleges #largercompanies #apprenticeships #UKgovernment #trainingopportunities Association of Colleges Greater Manchester Chamber, UK Altrincham & Sale Chamber of Commerce Warrington Chamber Trafford & Stockport College Group

In 2022/23, a staggering 48% of all apprenticeships were snapped up by people aged 25 and over. So long, fresh-faced stereotypes! 👋 And what's driving this apprenticeship renaissance, you ask? Two words: Apprenticeship. Levy. Back in 2017, the government decided to hit up the big ballers with an annual wage bill of over £3 million, demanding they cough up 0.5% of their payroll each month. But here's the real kicker – that cash can be funnelled straight back into training their workforce through...apprenticeships! 💸 Ka-ching, it's a win-win! 💸 As for the smaller organisations with wage bills under £3 million, the government will cover a whopping 95% of the costs for up to 10 apprentices. Talk about a golden ticket to upskilling your team without breaking the bank! Now, brace yourselves for this jaw-dropping stat: Despite this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, UK businesses have managed to squander an eye-watering £2 billion in unused Apprenticeship Levy funds since 2019. Yep, they've been treating it like a pesky tax instead of the talent-cultivating goldmine it truly is. We've crafted a comprehensive guide that'll walk you through everything you need to know about leveraging apprenticeships at your organisation. Give it a read and get ready to unlock a world of talent (and savings)! https://lnkd.in/dqKzXVGz #ApprenticeshipRevolution #FutureOfWork #WorkforceTransformation #SkillsGap #TalentDevelopment #WorkplaceTraining #CareerGrowth #FutureReadyWorkforce #LearningCulture #InvestInTalent #ApprenticeLevy #GovernmentInitiatives #NoAgeLimit #BreakingStereotypes #DisruptiveThinking #Apprenticeships #HR #LearningAndDevelopment 

This is a fabulous new initiative from the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, and as a Staffordshire Apprenticeship Ambassador, I will be delighted to help where I can. There's much talk about government reform of the #apprenticeshiplevy at present, but the bottom line is that any levy paying company can help other firms by gifting up to 50% of unspent levy money. Any company with a pay bill of over £3m pays the apprenticeship levy. Smaller businesses don't pay a levy. Reforms have been triggered by the fact that just 2.7 per cent of levy-paying businesses helped others with levy transfers in 2022/23 (Government statistics). It's a huge waste of potential - just imagine how many local SMEs, or even charities could benefit from more if more money was gifted. It could improve the employment opportunities for scores of young people. Apprenticeships lead to skilled jobs, making a major economic contribution. Here's the recent article in Daily Focus - Staffordshire Business News - https://lnkd.in/e3da52t9 #apprenticeships #levypayers #levygifting