Member Article

TyneMet explores the future of Apprentices

Driven by the future of Apprenticeships, including funding and the Apprenticeship Levy, TyneMet have hosted a series of events for employers on the upcoming changes and provide vital information on the implications of the Apprenticeship changes.

The popularity of the first event led to TyneMet College organising a second event. The new employer-designed standards describe the skills, knowledge and behaviours that an individual needs to be fully competent in an occupation with proposed changes including: funding, quality and end point assessment.

A number of businesses from North Tyneside and further afield were invited along to get fully up to date with the changes being made early next year.

Gillian Miller returned to the College to advise upon the proposed changes affecting businesses of the changes leading up to the Apprenticeship Levy and the Funding Reforms which will be in effect from April 2017.

Gillian said: “Apprenticeships provide a great return on investment but there aren’t always enough apprenticeship opportunities out there to meet the level of demand from young people and adults and some skills gaps remain in the economy.

“We also need to make sure that all Apprenticeships are high quality and that every Apprentice develops the new and different skills they need to be fully competent in their job role.”

The Apprenticeship Levy will provide the funding needed for the proposed changes to apprenticeships and the service will enable employers to directly manage their apprenticeship programmes and purchase training from approved training providers.

Pat Blyth, Head of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement at TyneMet College said: “The Government has recently announced changes and has provided some clarification regarding the future of apprenticeships including funding reforms and the Apprenticeship Levy.

“TyneMet wanted to hold this event to make local businesses aware of the changes following the update on the 25th of October 2016, and to ensure that they had the same understanding as others and access to the same information that they need to plan ahead of the changes.”

The businesses learned: who needs to pay the levy and when this will start; what is the Digital Apprenticeship Service and how to access it; funding for training; additional support for employers and new apprenticeship standards.

Lee Paris, Community Sports Manager at Active Northumberland, said: “The event gave a useful insight into the Apprenticeship reform, the event simplified the changes and I look forward to working with TyneMet to offer development opportunities to new and existing staff going forward.”

For more about the Apprenticeship changes please email pat.blyth@tynemet.ac.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by TyneMet College .