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BETTER BUSINESS

gramme (or National Living Wage Walkington: “This is hardly surpris-
depending on the age of the appren- ing given the current climate;
tice) for 25 hours per week for a employers are less likely to take on
total of six months.” Further, an apprentice and training provid-
employers can also get funding to ers are less able to deliver training.
cover employer National Insurance Many providers, BPIF included,
contributions and employer mini-
mum pension automatic enrolment have had to change their delivery
contributions. There is also a £1,500 models overnight to accommodate
grant available for start-up costs. new ways of working and a shift to
For Max Walkington, head of remote delivery.” The problem for
Data and Compliance at the BPIF, apprentices which Walkington
the scheme is considered in a posi- points out is that “there is also much
tive light. He says that his organisa- uncertainty around the long-term
tion is “keen to embrace any impact [of Covid] – it remains to be
initiative that encourages growth seen whether employers will be able
and employment opportunities for to keep on apprentices when their
businesses... it’s an excellent pre-
apprenticeship programme for programmes have come to an end”.
those who are currently furthest It seems to make sense that the
away from work.” He cautions government uses outcome-based
though, that employers should be measures to determine the success
aware that they can only take on a of training programmes such as
young person who has been referred apprenticeships. On an optimistic
by the DWP. However, the BPIF can note, Walkington says that “the last
support firms with the required set of published data showed that
employability training to increase 91% of apprentices progressed into
the chances of longer-term work. a sustained positive destination
Also, the BPIF can help print access
the grant. (employment or further training)
There’s a catch, however. The after completing their apprentice-
scheme doesn’t necessarily work for ship, but that figure will not be as
small employers, as a minimum of high this year.” Even so, he thinks
30 job placements must be offered that “apprenticeships have consist-
by an employer for them to be able ently provided opportunities to indi-
to apply. That said, those 30 place- viduals who might not have
ments can be spread out until the otherwise been given a chance”.
end of December 2021. As Stevens He adds that the BPIF “has hun-
advises, “if an employer is not able dreds of success stories” and has
the cost of an apprenticeship. to offer that number of job place- provided training opportunities cov-
Overall, the theory is that apprenticeships should be an attractive way ments, it may be that another organ- ering entry-level positions, all the
for an individual to be able to study and earn an income at the same time. isation, such as local authority, way to senior management pro-
Stevens thinks that the government is pleased with the levy. He cites charity or trade body [like the BPIF]
data from April 2019, where it was reported that “the latest figures show can act as a Kickstart gateway, in grammes, funded through employer
that since the levy was introduced on 6 April 2017 it has directly supported order to help that employer apply Levy schemes or via government
312,900 people to start their apprenticeship journey”. for funding.” That of course, places subsidies.
an obstacle in the way. It is undeniable that the economy
Nevertheless, as Walkington has
Covid-19 got in the way needs a pipeline of skilled workers
seen, apprenticeship schemes have and executed well, apprenticeship
But it should be no surprise that Covid-19 has made life very difficult for been hit hard by Covid-19. From 23
anyone in the world of employment. March – the start of lockdown – to and allied programmes could well
The young, in particular, have been hit badly. The government reacted the end of July 2020, he says that produce the leaders that print needs
with the Kickstart Scheme. Highlighted by Stevens: “It gives funding to 58,160 apprenticeship starts were for the future and at low or no initial
employers specifically to create work placements for 16- to 24-year olds reported, down from the 107,750 cost. However, employers need to
who are on Universal Credit. Each employer is able to apply for funding reported over the same period a year approach the process with altruism
which covers 100% of the National Minimum Wage for those on the pro- ago – a 46% decrease. Says and good intentions.

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