apprenticeship levy what have we learnt? · apprenticeship levy ... by their employer as ready for...

TSA Conference 28th September 2017

Jenny Clucas, Cogent Skills

Apprenticeship levy –what have we learnt?

1. Introduction

2. What’s new in Apprenticeships

3. Progress & Challenges

4. Opportunities

5. Help available

6. Q & A

We support organisations to attract, retain and develop people who can contribute to business success.

Our flexible and scalable suite of skills solutions spans across a range ofprocesses and activities – from training strategy and planning, content design and development, to cost-effective apprenticeship delivery.

The go-to place for science industry skills

Employer leading on quality and funding (Institute of Apprenticeships)

Employer designed, job role based Standards

End point Assessment

Apprenticeship based training for new & existing workforce

No age restrictions e.g. can have a 60 year old apprentice!

Includes degree apprenticeships (i.e. levels 2 - 8)

What's new in Apprenticeships….

Supported by West Sussex Health Life Science Cluster

End-point assessment

➢ The introduction of independent end-point assessment (EPA) is one of the biggest changes in the Government’s Apprenticeship Reforms.

➢ A new way of assuring quality in the apprenticeship system.

➢ Once an apprentice has completed their apprenticeship, they will be ‘signed off’ by their employer as ready for end-point assessment of their knowledge and practical capabilities.

➢ In some standards the assessment is graded and must show the apprentice is fully competent and productive in the occupation.

➢ The registered assessment organisation and the assessor must be independent.

What methods of assessment will be used?

FOR ASSESSING PRACTICAL COMPETENCE

Options include:• Workplace observation• Testing in a practical test

facility• Workplace projects• Portfolio of work• Assignments

FOR ASSESSING A BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

Options include:• Tests• Examinations• Professional

discussions

FOR ASSESSING KNOWLEDGED-BASED COMPETENCE

Options include:• Workplace projects• Projects away from work

(invigilated or otherwise)• Professional discussions• Assessment of work

projects

Progress

➢ Frameworks - full switchover due by 2020, but not being phased out as quickly originally planned

➢ Planned Levy transfer from April 2018 of up to 10% of levy credits to other employers or Apprenticeship Training Agencies (ATAs)

Academic Year Total for the full year(* 1/8/16 – 1/4/17 only)

14/15 499,900

Of which new Standards 400

15/16 509,400

Of which new Standards 4,400

16/17 440,300*

Of which new Standards 11,000*

➢ Levy started April 2017 - money is now coming out of your bank account!

➢ Institute of Apprenticeships up & running - overseeing Standards & quality

➢ Standards

▪ Rapid increase in number of higher

level standards being developed

▪ Uptake increasing

Challenges:➢ Challenge to maximise drawdown of levy

➢ 20% off the job training - realistic for upskilling existing workforce?

➢ Different apprenticeships policies and approaches in the four UK nations -transferability, multi-located employers, ….

➢ Government co-investment model for non-levy paying SMEs - funding issues being addressed

➢ Training Providers: reporting starts since 1st May have reduced between 30% -90% cf same period last year (official data due October)

Supported by West Sussex Health Life Science Cluster

Opportunities ➢ Government is consulting & listening about all aspects of Apprenticeship reform (e.g.

Frameworks to Standards, level of funding, should incentives be offered to employers, the new funding system, how to engage provision, etc)

➢ Government provide a 10% top up for levy payers

➢ Co-investment model for non-levy payers is 90 : 10

➢ Bring in new talent - including at higher and degree levels

➢ Up-skill/re-train existing employees through apprenticeship based training

➢ Staff can now take apprenticeships at the same or lower level as a qualification already held - as long as in a different area & individual needs significant new knowledge and skills

➢ An apprentice can be any age

Cogent Skills Apprenticeship help:

➢ Apprenticeship consultancy

➢ Cogent Skills Training - registered lead provider service

➢ SIAS - independent registered end assessment organisation

Plus, Cogent facilitates the Industrial Science& Life Sciences Trailblazer

➢ Cogent Downstream Membership - includes apprenticeship advice & guidance benefits

➢ Levy Managed Service (including ATA) - recruitment, management and employment options

Jenny Clucas

Head of Membership Operations

jenny.clucas@cogentskills.com

01925 515 201www.cogentskills.com

Thank you &

questions

Additional Information

Apprenticeship levy - started on 6 April 2017, at a rate of 0.5% of pay bill, paid through PAYE

Applies to all UK employers inall sectors

Apprenticeship Accounts for levy payers

Standards replacing frameworks

Non-levy payers - 90%/10% co-investment model

Funding band maximums for Standards (and Frameworks) apply to use of levy / government co-investment

The levy is set at 0.5%

of an employer’s UK

pay bill. It will only be

paid on any pay bill in

excess of

£3mEmployers have an

allowance of £15,000

to offset against their

levy payment

Recap - major reforms:

Standards replacing Frameworks▪ New Apprenticeship Standards will replace the old Specifications for Apprenticeship

Standards in England (SASE) Frameworks.

▪ Some of the new Standards are already available for delivery; so at present there are both Frameworks and Standards.

▪ We expect the full switchover to take place by 2020, although this date is subject to change.

▪ Standard leads to - programme of training and learning needed to develop apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours – as required by the apprentice’s job role and the Standard. This training and learning will lead to end-point assessment and be set out in an Apprenticeship Training Plan.

Funding bandsEvery apprenticeship will be placed in a funding band

The upper limit of each funding band will cap the maximum:• amount of digital funds an employer who pays the levy can use

towards an individual apprenticeship. • that government will ‘co-invest’ towards, where an employer

does not pay the levy or has insufficient digital

Employers can negotiate the best price for the training they require

• If employers want to spend more than the funding band limit, using their own money, then they will be free to do that.

• Funding bands do not have a lower limit.

Number Band limit

1 £1,500

2 £2,000

3 £2,500

4 £3,000

5 £3,500

6 £4,000

7 £5,000

8 £6,000

9 £9,000

10 £12,000

11 £15,000

12 £18,000

13 £21,000

14 £24,000

15 £27,000

Apprenticeship LevelsThere are now various levels of Apprenticeship available:

Intermediate apprenticeship (Level 2 – equivalent to five A*-C GCSEs)

Advanced apprenticeship (Level 3 – equivalent to two A-levels)

Higher apprenticeship (Levels 4-7 – equivalent to a foundation degree and above)

Degree apprenticeship (Levels 6 & 7 – full bachelors or master’s degree)

Useful Linkshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-funding-and-performance-management-rules-2017-to-2018

Version 2 of SFA Apprenticeship funding and performance-management rules was published on 17th March 2017. This link takes you to the page to access version 2 documents – there’s also a handy summary of changes from version 1.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-of-apprenticeship-training-providers

Take you to the newly published list of approved training providers who have met SFA requirements to be able to take part in apprenticeship delivery.

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

How the Levy will work - also useful for non-levy employers

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeships-off-the-job-training

Guidance: Apprenticeships: off-the-job training

https://manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk/

Apprenticeships Service

https://estimate-my-apprenticeship-funding.sfa.bis.gov.uk/

Simple SFA online calculator tool

https://findapprenticeshiptraining.sfa.bis.gov.uk/Apprenticeship/Search

Search for training and training providers