This month sees the first anniversary of the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, designed to tackle skills shortages, improve training, encourage employers to invest in youth, and recruit an extra three million apprenticeship starts by 2020.
So how is the master plan working out?
A report just published by the Open University reveals that while £1.39billion has been collected in levy payments only a fraction of this sum – £108million – has been drawn down. And with the funds lasting only 24 months from when they enter a firms’ apprentice levy account, the clock is ticking on spending funds before they expire.
Equally, a survey carried out by the Institute of Directors (IOD) reports that the new scheme has had a troubled first year:
- Only 14% of employers who pay the levy think it is fit for purpose
- Two thirds say don’t fully understand the system, resulting in them being unlikely to reclaim their levy entitlement
- Only 19% said they would use their levy to take on new apprentices
Last year we viewed our own frustrations following the publication of the apprentice start figures - read the article here
Against this backdrop of confusion and disappointment, we are hoping some in construction have had a better year one experience, and we would like to hear from you.
- Have you used the levy?
- How have you found it?
- Are you using it for apprentices or to upskill existing staff?
Send your views to fiona.gamwell@hudsoncontract.co.uk by 30 April 2018
We will collate responses and share experiences to try and help you access funding and get additional apprentices into construction.
Ready to take on an apprentice?
Start by contacting your local college. Or go to https://findapprenticeshiptraining.sfa.bis.gov.uk/ to find relevant training providers
You can see the IOD survey results in full here
