Apprenticeships in engineering provide a mixture of off-the-job learning and on-the-job practical work experience. This gives you the assurance that apprentices are receiving the skills and knowledge that your business needs. Demand for skilled workers is set to increase over the coming years. Apprenticeships can support you to develop new talent for your business.
About the Apprenticeship Levy
The Apprenticeship Levy is a UK-wide employment tax introduced by the UK Government that came into force on 6 April 2017. It applies to all UK employers with an annual ‘pay bill’ of £3 million or more. Devolved nations receive a proportion of the money collected from this levy based on population size to fund apprenticeships in these countries.
Apprenticeships across England, Scotland and Wales
England and Wales call their programmes ‘Apprenticeships’ while Scotland uses the term ‘Modern Apprenticeships’.
England now solely uses apprenticeship standards rather than apprenticeship frameworks. Wales and Scotland still use apprenticeship frameworks only.
- Standards: Developed by employer groups to meet specific industry needs. They focus on the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required for a specific occupation.
- Frameworks: Comprised of a series of work-related qualifications, often including a competence-based element, a knowledge-based element, and transferable skills.
Key differences between apprenticeship standards and apprenticeship frameworks
Assessment
- Standards: Use an end-point assessment (EPA) to evaluate the apprentice’s overall competency at the end of their training.
- Frameworks: Rely on continuous assessment throughout the apprenticeship, often using a portfolio of evidence.
Flexibility
- Standards: More rigid in their overall structure but allow for more tailored on-the-job training.
- Frameworks: Offer more flexibility in the combination of qualifications that can be included.
Duration
- Standards: Generally have a fixed duration based on the time needed to become occupationally competent.
- Frameworks: Can vary in duration depending on the qualifications chosen and the apprentice’s progress.
Qualifications
- Standards: May not always include mandatory qualifications, focusing instead on the apprentice being able to pass the EPA, though more Standards are now including qualifications.
- Frameworks: Always include at least one recognised qualification.
Funding
- Standards: In England, funding is capped at a specific level for each standard.
- Frameworks: Funding is often based on the individual components of the framework.
Grading
- Standards: Usually graded (e.g., pass, merit, distinction) based on the EPA
- Frameworks: Typically result in a pass/fail outcome.
Despite these differences, the core principles of apprenticeships remain similar across all three nations – employers work with training providers to offer a combination of on-the-job and off-the-job training while providing employment to the apprentice for a minimum of 12 months.
What employers need to do in each nation
England
1. Choose an apprenticeship standard that matches the skills, knowledge and behaviours you need from an apprentice and aligns with your business needs.
2. Find a training provider that offers the chosen apprenticeship standard.
3. You can get money to go towards the cost of training and assessment. The amount you get depends on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy or not.
4. Advertise the apprenticeship opportunity and recruit a suitable candidate.
5. Agree on a contract and commit to a minimum of 12 months of employment and training.
6. Work with the training provider to ensure the apprentice receives the necessary on-the-job and off-the-job training.
Scotland:
1. Choose a Modern Apprenticeship framework that suits their business needs.
2. Find a training provider that offers the chosen Modern Apprenticeship framework.
3. The Scottish Government funds apprenticeship training for individuals of all ages, so employers do not need to pay the training costs.
4. Scottish employers can use some of their Apprenticeship Levy funds for broader workplace development programmes, not just apprenticeships.
5. Advertise the apprenticeship opportunity and recruit a suitable candidate.
6. Agree on a contract and commit to a minimum of 12 months of employment and training.
7. Work with the training provider to ensure the apprentice receives the necessary on-the-job and off-the-job training.
Wales
1. Choose an apprenticeship framework that suits your business needs.
2. Find a training provider that offers the chosen apprenticeship framework.
3. The Welsh Government funds apprenticeship training for individuals of all ages, so employers do not need to pay the training costs.
4. Advertise the apprenticeship opportunity and recruit a suitable candidate.
5. Agree on a contract and commit to a minimum of 12 months of employment and training.
6. Work with the training provider to ensure the apprentice receives the necessary on-the-job and off-the-job training.
Wales has no plans to introduce the digital apprenticeship service accounts or Standards used in England.
Funding and apprenticeship grant support
In England, large employers (with an annual pay bill over £3 million) pay the Apprenticeship Levy and use these funds for training. If an employer doesn’t pay the levy, they are expected to contribute 5% of the cost of apprenticeship training. The government then pays the remaining 95%.
In Scotland and Wales, the government fully funds apprenticeship training for employers of all sizes.
Regardless of location, all employers are responsible for paying their apprentices’ salaries.
Apprentice support from the ECITB can be used towards apprenticeship employment costs – travel, accommodation or qualifications that are bolted on above the apprenticeship standard.
For more information on apprenticeship support
For more information on the apprenticeship support you can receive contact your Relationship Manager
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