The Apprenticeship Management Group has announced plans to expand its portfolio to non-apprenticeship levy payers.
In a new initiative, the group, which currently looks after large levy-paying organisations, is encouraging smaller businesses to make the most of these opportunities. Through this new initiative, the Government and Educational Skills Funding Agency has extended its apprenticeship budget to immediately accommodate up to 15,000 new apprenticeship starts from registered non-levy-paying employers with more to follow – something it says will open up apprenticeships, making it “a level playing field for all”, in the words of director, John Henry, who looks after BFM apprenticeships.
“Only business leaders that know how simple and straightforward it is to access these benefits are securing these advantages for their staff and their trades," says John. "The biggest problem with apprenticeships is finding the apprentice – the only barrier to the benefits of funded training at all levels is ignorance of the ease of access.
“The range of new and focused training is available to sales and marketing, procurement, production, logistics, warehouse, transport, IT, finance, HR, the creative and the technically skilled to managers and administrators across the piece. Unfortunately, each non-levy payer can only utilise the scheme for a maximum of three apprenticeship funded employees, but this will certainly break the unfairness faced by SMEs wishing to access higher level training for existing colleagues. Training is available for all, from board members through MBAs and to your newest recruits, either free or with a very small contribution.
“SME employers that do not pay the levy will pay just 5% of the cost of any or all these professional qualifications and in many cases save more in incentives than they outlay to access superb providers without restriction.”
