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