Developing Cornwall’s Healthcare Workforce for the Future
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprentices are aged 16 or over and combine working with studying to gain skills and knowledge in a specific job.
Apprentices can be new or current employees.
You can get government funding to cover some of the cost of training and assessing an apprentice if you’re in England.
You must pay the apprentice at least the minimum wage.
Your apprentice must
- work with experienced staff
- learn job-specific skills
- study during their working week (for example, at a college or training organisation)
An apprenticeship is a genuine job with an accompanying assessment and skills development programme. It is a way for individuals to earn while they learn gaining valuable skills and knowledge in a specific job role. The apprentice gains this through a wide mix of learning in the workplace, formal off-the-job training and the opportunity to practise new skills in a real work environment.
Apprenticeships are designed by the Sector Skills Councils, while the National Apprenticeship Service helps to fund the training. It is a package of on-the-job training and qualifications.
Apprenticeships benefit employers and individuals, and by boosting the skills of the workforce they help to improve economic productivity
Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeships are equivalent to 5 GCSEs and an Advanced Apprenticeship at Level 3 is equivalent to 2 A levels.
Apprentices must spend at least 20% of their time on off-the-job training, however, they may need more than this if, for example, they need training in English and maths.
- Adult Apprenticeships are basically an in-house training programme, for newly recruited or existing staff to develop skills in line with roles.
- Adult Apprenticeships enable employers to develop workforce skills to meet client/patient needs, while drawing down funding to support delivery.
- Adult Apprenticeships are for permanent staff, with permanent contracts on normal salaries determined by their role.
- Adult Apprenticeships MUST see their tutor every 3 to 4 weeks in the workplace and be provided every opportunity to meet the training needs of their Adult Apprenticeship in house training programme.
- Employers will work with the tutor to ensure the Adult Apprentice completes their training programme and is ready for their End Point Assessment to successfully complete their programme.
- Work based support from an occupationally competent tutor.
- Nationally recognised qualifications.
- Developing transferable skills enabling you to move between healthcare roles.
- Employability skills.
- Earning while you learn.
- Career progression and enhancement opportunities.
The length of time for an apprenticeship differs depending on the learner’s needs, level of the qualification and employment status. It is usually 12 months.
- 77% of employers believe Apprenticeships make them more competitive and 76% say that Apprenticeships provide higher overall productivity;
- 80% feel that Apprenticeships reduce staff turnover;
- 83% of employers rely on their Apprenticeships programme to provide the skilled workers that they need for the future;
- Two-thirds of respondents believe that their Apprenticeship programme helps them fill vacancies more quickly, whilst
- 88% believe that Apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce;
- 59% report that training apprentices is more cost-effective than hiring skilled staff, with 59% believing that Apprenticeships lead to lower overall training costs and 53% feeling that they reduce recruitment costs;
- In terms of the return on investment linked to Apprenticeships, 41% say that their apprentices make a valuable contribution to the business during their training period, while a further third (33%) report that apprentices add value within their first few weeks (or even from Day One);
- 57% report a high proportion of their apprentices going on to management positions within the company;
- Over three-quarters of respondents expect apprenticeships to play a bigger part in their recruitment policy in the future.
Dynamo Healthcare Training works with employers providing a one stop shop for apprenticeship recruitment, training and support for both the employer and the apprentice from the start of the programme to the end.
- We help you to match the job role to the specialist apprenticeship training.
- We support recruitment with advertising for free and help you to short list and select your apprentices
- We design the training package with you which consists of; a day a week training to include full induction, any sector specific mandatory training, work skills and technical certificate to meet knowledge requirements.
- We provide a one to one assessor/mentor to support the apprentice and ensure they are meeting the competency requirements
- We provide support for the employer to ensure you are confident with the whole process
- You must commit to have the apprentice for a year, then if you wish you can recruit then to an existing vacancy if they don’t already fill one
- We provide progression opportunities for higher training to meet any career progression opportunities.
- For staff who are already employed we support you to match the most appropriate apprenticeship qualification to the role of your existing staff.
If you’re an employer with a pay bill over £3 million a year, you must pay the apprenticeship levy from 6 April 2017 through your digital account, which is linked to your payroll system. This money must be used for your existing staff and new recruits to complete Adult Apprenticeships. Your organisation pays 90% of the full training fee and the Government pays 10%. If you run out of funds in your digital account the Government will increase payment to support continued training for your staff, as long as they are completing in work training Apprenticeships.
Non Levy Employer
If your annual wage bill is less than £3 million per year your organisation is considered a non levy employer. The Government will pay 90% of your training fees and you will pay 10%.
There is no other funding to train staff other than through in work Adult Apprenticeships. The Government wants all staff in all sectors to be occupationally competent and hold English and Maths qualifications.
- Employers are not required to pay National Insurance Contributions for apprentices under the age of 25 on earnings below the higher tax rate of £827 a week (£43,000 a year).
- £1,000 payment to both the employer and provider when they train a 16- to 18-year-old.
- £1,000 payment to both the employer and provider when they train a 19- to 24-year-old who has previously been in care or who has a local authority education, health and care plan.
Employer with less than 50 staff
The government will fund all of the apprenticeship training costs, up to the maximum value of the funding band for the apprenticeship, for employers employing fewer than 50 people if, the learner is aged between 16 and 18 years old or aged between 19 and 24 years old and either has an EHC plan provided by their local authority or has been in the care of their local authority.
Apprenticeship Funding bands
The Government has set funding bands for different Apprenticeship standards for different sectors. Training providers and Employers can not change these funding bands. They are set. Employers must pay towards their staff training costs.
- Business Administration
- Customer Services
- Team Leading
- Supervisor/ Management
- Clinical Healthcare
- Medical Reception
- Social Care