The Apprenticeship Levy for existing staff?

Brummie85

Hi All.

Wonder if anyone here can help with some information for approaching employers for funding & support in further developing skills.

I know that due to their size and wage turnover, my employer will be paying into the Apprenticeship Levy. I don't see them making much use of it, which is a shame. My understanding is that if they don't use the funds for the development of their own employees within 24 months, they are taken back and put into a pot that other companies can access.

I can make a solid case for the training & qualifications I wish to consider taking , including the benefits to the business. But when I ran the request past a Manager informally back in August, I was told that it wouldn't be possible as they had no money for courses at that level and it couldn't be organised for the September anyway. But we've got a new Manager now, So I figure it's worth bringing up again, in plenty of time for the next academic year.

Can an employer use the levy to help fund existing employees onto vocational & degree qualifications?

unforeseen

If you are an apprentice then they can spend it on just about any training all the way to degree.

If you are not an apprentice then they can't fund any training for you.

It only took a quick Google search to find that out plus the name is a bit of a giveaway.

marlot

Brummie85 wrote: »

...
Can an employer use the levy to help fund existing employees onto vocational & degree qualifications?

Yes, one of my staff is using it to fund a management degree apprenticeship. I give him a day off each week for his studies, and he often works evenings or weekends. Not for the faint hearted!

Ozzuk

Most obvious question...are you an apprentice? If not then you have no right to the funding and your employer cannot use it for that.

BrassicWoman

Ozzuk wrote: »

Most obvious question...are you an apprentice? If not then you have no right to the funding and your employer cannot use it for that.

But apprenticeships go all the way up to PhD level now. And it's as much for in work skills development as new starters.

So I would say yes, but you need to work out how they will handle the release time of 20% off the job training.

Brummie85

Thanks for the replies. To answer your points. No I'm not currently considered an apprentice.

Marlot & BrassicWoman. They were pretty good to me last year. I came with a partially completed HNC. They gave me the time off and paid for the 2nd year to complete it. There is a degree of flexibility in my patterns required due to the nature of the business and my role, so losing time and making it back up isn't an issue. I do my fair share of weekend and night shifts.

I'm not worried about the commitment involved in taking myself further. I just need to be asking and planning now, based upon what the company may (or may not) be able to accommodate. If need be, I may consider looking at the Open University or similar distance learning route.

marlot

Ozzuk wrote: »

Most obvious question...are you an apprentice? If not then you have no right to the funding and your employer cannot use it for that.

Existing staff can become apprentices now - at any level.

Ozzuk

marlot wrote: »

Existing staff can become apprentices now - at any level.

Out of interest how does that work? Our apprentices don't show up on our headcount reports, don't have any guarantee of employment past 3 or 4 years and don't have access to the same bonus. Wouldn't it be a complete change in contract and employment terms?

Companies could just claim someone is an apprentice to claim funding if that was the case. Not saying you're wrong as this isn't my area at all, just wondering how it would work.

BrassicWoman

Ozzuk wrote: »

Out of interest how does that work? Our apprentices don't show up on our headcount reports, don't have any guarantee of employment past 3 or 4 years and don't have access to the same bonus. Wouldn't it be a complete change in contract and employment terms?

Companies could just claim someone is an apprentice to claim funding if that was the case. Not saying you're wrong as this isn't my area at all, just wondering how it would work.

Marlot is not even remotely wrong!



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-levy-how-it-will-work/apprenticeship-levy-how-it-will-work

marlot

Ozzuk wrote: »

Out of interest how does that work? Our apprentices don't show up on our headcount reports, don't have any guarantee of employment past 3 or 4 years and don't have access to the same bonus....

That's simply your company's policies.

Ozzuk

BrassicWoman wrote: »

Marlot is not even remotely wrong!



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-levy-how-it-will-work/apprenticeship-levy-how-it-will-work

Interesting, I had a read of the rules - it must be clear that a role hasn't been created just to get funding, which was my point.

So you can't just use it to train your employees, it has to be a genuine apprentice position, with the support, registration and monitoring that goes with that.