The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB)’s Post

Have a read of this interesting article if you have a minute! Concerning statistics around the significant demand for UK apprenticeships and the lack of current availability, and interesting reforms proposed to address this.

Today’s Budget Update: Impact on Apprenticeships The UK’s Autumn Budget 2024 brings changes in apprenticeship funding, reworking the Apprenticeship Levy into a more adaptable "Growth and Skills Levy." This update is intended to make training more accessible, especially with shorter apprenticeships that align better with sector-specific needs. The previous minimum commitment of 12 months has been removed, giving businesses flexibility to address immediate skills shortages. In a shift towards prioritizing entry-level skills, employers will now shoulder more of the costs for advanced Level 7 apprenticeships (master’s equivalent). This adjustment aims to redirect funds to foundational apprenticeships, particularly in high-demand sectors like health, education, and technology. The new body, Skills England, will oversee this levy from 2025, ensuring it aligns with priority skills areas crucial to economic growth. This is part of a larger strategy to close national skills gaps and respond dynamically to workforce needs. More to come soon ...

Great article by Jacqueline Hall at BAE.. According to this, only 7% of young people are aware of alternative routes to further education outside of university.. We've seen a significant lack of understanding in the business community around FE routes available to them as well (perhaps even worse!) We need to do what we can to raise awareness around apprenticeships, CPD, T-Levels and other routes to bridging the skills gap, to both learners and businesses alike - lets bridge the skills gap together! https://lnkd.in/ea3H64RZ

The number one priority for the new government is growth. But what are the implications for apprenticeship programmes and employers? We know that a Growth and Skills Levy will replace the Apprenticeship Levy, and that new bodies, Skills England and an Industrial Strategy Council, will be created. All of this will take time, so the advice to employers is not to “save” Levy funds or to pause programmes. If you have, or are planning to implement an apprenticeship programme that will help you grow your business, there is no logic in delaying. And for smaller businesses, 100% funding for younger apprentices remains in place (95% for those aged 22 and above). To find out more about the government’s plans and what employers can do in the short and long-term, see https://lnkd.in/e-7ru7KH. #growth #skills #apprenticeships

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 #ApprenticeshipLevy to enhance employer investment in #skills and boost opportunities for young people to secure apprenticeships that lead to quality employment. https://lnkd.in/eyFUHp3P

‼️ University Fees due to rise AGAIN!! ‼️ With fees on the rise yet again, university students will be in an estimated £70,000 of debt before they’ve even started their careers. The majority of which will spend the next 20-30 years on average paying it off. 💡 What about if there was a different option? An option that didn't put you in debt, but instead allowed you to save and make money? An option that meant you could learn on the job, and apply those skills to help further your career and gain real-life work experience? 🎇 Apprenticeships 🎇 👉 From April 2025, the minimum wage for an apprentice is £15,750. That's the highest jump in apprentice minimum wage yet. 👉 We're seeing a huge push on apprenticeships across the UK, meaning that now there is a wider variety of apprenticeships to choose from. If you're not sure what the best fit is for you, drop me a message and we can discuss. ❗️University teaches theory, apprenticeships teach you HOW to do it [email protected] 0121 616 7458

Interesting information here on the future of apprenticeship funding

As it currently stands, the #ApprenticeshipLevy scheme hasn't succeeded in reversing the decline in employer investment in training, addressing poor productivity, nor enhancing the quantity and quality of #apprenticeships. 📉 New CIPD research, working with Youth Futures Foundation, shows a continuation of the decline in UK employer investment in #training and apprenticeships. This decline is concerning for skills development in workforces generally, and especially for young people who most benefit from and need apprenticeships. To address this effectively, we’re calling for policy-makers to: ➡️ Introduce an Apprenticeship Guarantee for young people. ➡️ Create apprenticeships that provide clear pathways and high quality training for young people. ➡️ Reinstate traineeship programmes to help young people get ready for apprenticeships if they need further support. Download this new report, 'Balancing act: Youth apprenticeships and the case for a flexible skills levy' here: https://ow.ly/O3UG50RMSSx #ApprenticeshipLevy #CIPD #HR

As we await further clarity about the new Growth and Skills Levy the challenge the government faces appears clear; increase apprenticeship starts, particularly for young people, but without increasing the overall spend. They will attempt to increase starts by creating foundation apprenticeships aimed at those not ready for a Level 2 and Level 3 programme and shortening the lengths of some apprenticeships. This should increase throughput and accessibility as well as completion rates. The increase in levy spending on these two ‘new’ apprenticeships will be covered by reducing the number of Level 7 apprenticeships being funded. This will undoubtedly disappoint some businesses but the rationale is an easy one to create a media narrative for - “We’re directing levy funds away from highly paid professionals to young people who need an opportunity”. If employers were hopeful of spending 50% of their levy on short courses and professional qualifications it looks like they will be disappointed. However reform will bring great opportunities to create different entry routes into your business and potential solutions to recruitment challenges. At Babington we know increasingly large numbers of young people are looking for apprenticeship opportunities and we want to help more employers embrace the opportunity that recruiting apprentices brings as well as continuing to support their upskill and reskill agendas.

Big debate ahead: What will happen to apprenticeships? Next Tuesday, not far from now, members of the House of Lords will gather to debate the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill. This bill aims to abolish the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and transfer its duties to the Secretary of State for Education, who will work with the newly established Skills England. It's a major shift that could have significant implications for apprenticeships and technical education in the UK. In this second reading, Baroness Smith of Malvern will lead the discussion, supported by notable figures such as Lord Blunkett and Baroness McGregor-Smith. They will dive into the main aspects of the bill and flag any areas needing amendment. Their insights and experiences are sure to make for a thought-provoking debate. You can watch it live on Parliament TV or catch up with the transcript later. At Rikama Education, we understand the importance of quality education and the role apprenticeships play in preparing the next generation for the workforce. We'll be following this debate closely and considering how these changes might impact our teaching professionals and educational partners. What are your thoughts on this potential shift? Feel free to share your comments below or visit us at https://lnkd.in/e2nGRuCx for more information. #Apprenticeships #EducationReform #SkillsDevelopment