The Apprenticeship Levy may be a game changer, but it certainly has its challenges. The major shake-up, designed to create 3m new apprenticeships by 2020, will see employers with a wage bill over £3m pay a 0.5% levy, whilst non-levied employers will pay 10% towards Apprenticeship training. On the supply side, training companies continue to grapple with new contract terms for delivering Apprenticeships and new registration processes to be approved suppliers.
Amidst all the chaos, a new, independent advisory firm has emerged to help employers navigate the potential pitfalls of Apprenticeships. Bally Bhogal, MD of Independent Training and Skills Services (ITSS) knows first-hand the problems experienced by employers stating, “one of the biggest challenges is the lack of knowledge and understanding around Apprenticeships and the subsequent handover of control to a training provider. Being in the driving seat is key to ensuring that employers get a good deal.”
