Northern Skills Group Newsletter Issue 2

Welcome to the Northern Skills Group newsletter,

Develop your workforce with training Courses from Northern Skills Group

March 2017

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week Already in its 10th year, National Apprenticeship Week brings together employers and apprentices across the country to celebrate the many successes of apprenticeships and traineeships. As we love a celebration, we’ll be hosting various apprentice and employer activities across our three main locations to showcase the positive impact apprenticeships and traineeships have on individuals, businesses and the economy. From climbing up to the top of the transporter to job swapping with the NHS Ambulance Trust- see what we’re up to by following us on Twitter, Linked In and Facebook.

Northern Skills Group’s mission, as one of the largest providers of apprenticeships and training in the North, is to help shape the economic future of our region by providing apprenticeship and training solutions which make a positive impact and help bridge the skills gap. We cannot achieve this standing alone which is why we work with many employers and hold strong partnerships with key service providers and local authorities.

Our STEM Centre, based at Middlesbrough College campus is Northern Skills Group’s hub of innovation and technology, specialising in training courses delivered by experts in industry.

Speak with a member of our STEM team on 01642 333344 or email stem@northernskills.co.uk to find out more.

First Aid

Process and

Health and Safety

Instrumentation

Automation

Environmental

Electrical

Logistics and Supply

Mechanical

Chain

Assessor Training (TAQA)

Machining

Business Improvement Techniques Manufacturing

OVER 2,000 OVER 1,000

PROVIDING FREE ADVICE ON THE APPRENTICESHIP LEVY

PROGRAMMES DELIVERED

BY A TEAM OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS

DELIVERING APPRENTICESHIPS IN

APPRENTICES TRAINED

BUSINESSES ALREADY WORKING WITH US

OVER 20 SUBJECT AREAS Experts in

www.northernskills.co.uk

Apprenticeships & Training

Apprenticeship Reforms What it means for SMEs

98%

of employers in the UK will not be paying the apprenticeship levy. If you are an employer and your annual wage bill is less than £3m, you are part of that 98% and will not pay the apprenticeship levy.

Non-levy paying employers who take on apprentices will contribute 10% of apprenticeship costs, with the Government funding the remaining

Any published apprenticeship standards can be found online: apprenticeships.org.uk/standards

90%.

1 £1,500

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

£6,000

10

11

12

13

15

14

£27,000

Funding bands have been created for apprenticeship frameworks and the new apprenticeship standards; there are 15 funding bands in total.

For every 16-18 year old recruited via an apprenticeship programme, an employer will receive an extra

£1000

100%

For employers with less than 50 staff who recruit 16-18 year olds via apprenticeships, the Government will fund 100% of the training costs.

Northern Skills Group are offering FREE consultations for employers to guide them through the changes and provide expert advice on how to make the most of the changes.

Depending on the apprenticeship type and level, the 10% contribution from employers will range from £150 - £2700.

To find out how you can make the most of the changes, speak with one of our Business Advisers on 03453 40 40 40 or email info@northernskills.co.uk

Want to recruit an apprentice but don’t know where to start? Use our free recruitment service to find the right candidate.

www.northernskills.co.uk

10 years on To celebrate the 10th year of National Apprenticeship Week, we’ve reached out to our apprentices who began the ladder of opportunity over 10 years ago to find out where they are now.

Claire Harrison – PA to the Middlesbrough College Principalship.

Applying for jobs after leaving school, Claire found that despite the positive feedback she received on her applications, there was one area for improvement which prevented her from reaching that final stage - experience in a real working environment. Something many young adults will relate to who leave school and want to progress via a more hands-on route.

Undeterred, Claire continued with her job search and came across an apprenticeship vacancy in Business and Administration with Middlesbrough College; “I thought it would be the perfect role as it combined real work experience whilst gaining a real qualification.”

“I found it really enjoyable, I was given a great supervisor who I learnt a huge amount from and who helped me develop in my role as I grew in confidence and knowledge.“ Employing an apprentice not only provides learners with hands-on experience but it also helps employers grow and improve their productivity, a survey recently completed by the National Apprenticeship service found 75% of employers reported that apprenticeships improved the quality of their product or service.

“Businesses who employ apprentices are shaping their workforce for tomorrow, apprentices who finish their training and progress into employment with the same business can hit the ground running.

Upon completion of her apprenticeship, Claire secured a permanent position at the College and is now the PA to the Middlesbrough College Principalship. Claire has experienced the benefits of an apprenticeship first-hand and wants others to do the same.

“If you’re considering applying for an apprenticeship don’t miss out on the opportunity, just go for it and submit your application, you never know where an apprenticeship may lead to. I certainly didn’t expect to progress as far as I have done already!“ Visit www.northernskills.co.uk or call 03453 40 40 40 to find out how you can shape your workforce through apprenticeships

Did

you know After finishing, 77% of apprentices stay with the same employer.

What our employers say about apprenticeships “The group needs a skilled workforce both now and in the future and advanced apprenticeships are a first class way of achieving this.”

“Working with an award winning team in our local area is massively important to us and I’d really encourage other businesses to consider the value of apprenticeships.”

Linda Lacey - N&N Dental Group

Andy Kane- Darlington Building Society

Experts in

Apprenticeships & Training

Finance Apprenticeships Hailed By Fast-Growing Utilitywise Apprenticeship training has helped the finance team at fast growing North Tyneside firm Utilitywise to improve productivity. Bosses at the business energy consultancy say specialist technical accounting apprenticeships have helped the firm’s finance team increase performance.

Utilitywise enlisted the expertise of training provider Northern Skills Group to run Level 2 and Level 3 Association of Accounting Technician (AAT) apprenticeship qualifications at the firm’s Cobalt Business Park premises.

The training is delivered to the staff of the Utilitywise finance department – including those eligible for apprenticeship funding and those with existing degrees, who the company has paid for. Nadine Veitch, finance manager at Utilitywise, said the training was had been very successful.

She explained: “The team at Northern Skills Group has been able to tailor the training to suit our needs at Utilitywise.

“It’s a great programme because staff and the business benefit simultaneously.”

Around 13 Utilitywise staff have now started the Level 3 qualification and a further 15 will begin Level 2 soon.

The programme is delivered by a weekly evening class, which takes place in the Utilitywise offices and is delivered by Northern Skills Group tutor, Mark Chilver.

He said: “It’s great to deliver the AAT programmes at Utilitywise as the staff are enthusiastic to learn, and there is a real feeling of growth at the company.

“In fact, beyond the technical skills this cohort have acquired there is a great deal of personal and career development value to be taken from this.

“Northern Skills Group builds programmes around the specific needs of businesses, and as a tutor I get to see the benefits action.”

Apprenticeships we offer •

AAT Accountancy

•

Dental Nursing

•

Engineering

•

Leadership and Management

•

Health and Care

•

Process Operations

•

Food and Beverage Service

•

Hairdressing

•

Warehousing and Storage

•

Professional Cookery

•

IT User Skills

And many more.

•

Building Maintenance

•

Social Media for Business

See www.northernskills.co.uk

•

Customer Service

•

Welding

Want further advice?

Northern Skills Group has a dedicated Business Advice Team who can offer your organisation further advice and guidance on the Apprenticeship Reform and how these funding changes can be used to benefit your business needs.

To arrange a chat or company visit with a business adviser: Call: 03453 40 40 40 | Email: info@northernskills.co.uk

Experts in www.northernskills.co.uk

Apprenticeships & Training