UK – Some details on the apprenticeship levy to come

Although consultation on the Levy closes today, it’s clear that some questions have already been answered. The Levy will see ‘large’ employers (probably those with over 250 employees), paying a percentage (probably around 0.5%) of their payroll costs to the government, to be spent on apprenticeship creation. It’s not yet clear how the system will work for public sector employers, where the Ministry of Defence or National Health Service could face enormous bills.

Employers will then be able to access these funds by drawing down Digital Apprenticeship Vouchers, to be spent procuring training from registered providers. In our response to the consultation, NIACE has suggested that these vouchers be accessible to employers of all sizes, using funds from the Levy to support small employers with the costs of taking on an apprentice. We’ve also suggested that the governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland ring-fence the money they receive from the Levy to boost funding for vocational education in the devolved nations.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at Quality and access remain crucial for apprenticeships | Niace