Contents. Where can I find out more? About this guide. Introduction. What are Apprenticeships? How will an apprentice benefit my organisation?

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1 Apprenticeships Employers Guide

2 Contents About this guide Introduction What are Apprenticeships? How will an apprentice benefit my organisation? How much does an apprentice cost? Is there any financial support available? How can I recruit an apprentice? Can existing employees become an apprentice? What will an Apprenticeship involve? Why choose Stoke on Trent College? Where can I find out more?

3 About this guide This employers guide is designed to provide you with information about how an apprentice can benefit your business. It also includes an overview of how Apprenticeships work, how they are funded and how you can employ an apprentice. To find out more, contact the Business Services team or visit our website for more details: or call

4 Develop your skills, staff and business with us Welcome to Stoke on Trent College We are here to provide you with up-to-date training and expert support that is relevant to your business. As the region s largest college of further and higher education we have been working with businesses for many years to provide the training that employers want. Today, we continue to be at the forefront of vocational training, with excellent new facilities and delivering to the highest standards. Our tutors and assessors are industry experts in their fields, working closely with employers to ensure that training is relevant to their business. Services for business: Training Qualifications Apprentices We also offer the following FREE services for business: Apprentice recruitment service Organisational and Training needs analysis Help to access financial support Health & Safety assessments Ongoing dedicated support and specialist advice With two campuses in Stoke-on-Trent and modern facilities, we are ideally placed to be able to deliver a wide range of apprentice training for North Staffordshire and beyond. It s even possible for the training to be carried out on your own premises.

5 What are Apprenticeships? Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes Your employees gain nationally recognised qualifications that are relevant to their role in the workplace and your business gains a highly skilled employee. We offer a wide choice of Apprenticeships to suit all industries and sectors including: Business, IT, Administration and Management Accounts; Business Administration; Business Improvement Techniques; Customer Service; IT & Telecoms; Management and Team Leading; Marketing; Social Media and Marketing; Medical Secretary Construction and Building Services Brickwork; Carpentry (site); Electrical Installation; Gas; Joinery (bench); Multi-Trades; Painting & Decorating; Plastering; Plumbing; Wood Machining Engineering and Motor Vehicle Ceramics; Fabrication & Welding; Maintenance; Mechanical; Performing Manufacturing Operations (PMO); Technical Support; Vehicle Body & Paint; Vehicle Maintenance Light Vehicle or Heavy Vehicle Health, Care, Early Years and Scientific Childcare; Dental Nursing; Health and Social Care; Pharmacy Services; Laboratory Technician Logistics and Warehousing Logistics; Warehousing and Storage Service Industries Barbering; Beauty Therapy; Cleaning; Hairdressing; Hospitality and Catering Apprentice training can be delivered at three levels: Intermediate - Level 2 Equivalent to five GCSEs at grades A* - C Advanced - Level 3 Equivalent to two A-levels Higher - Level 4 & 5 Equivalent to a Foundation degree Apprentices often progress from one level to the next, enhancing their skills and value to the business as they do so. At Stoke on Trent College we continue to develop the range of Apprenticeships that we offer. Visit or contact us for more details.

6 How will an apprentice benefit my organisation? Having an apprentice in your organisation will: Improve productivity Fill skills gaps, including specialist skills specific to your industry Make your business more competitive Reduce training costs Reduce recruitment costs Assist with succession planning Motivate staff and reduce staff turnover Provide a significant return on investment Facts* 82% Building Skills 82% of employers take on apprentices to build the skills capacity within their businesses. 75% Lower recruitment costs 75% of apprentice employers say the programme has helped cut recruitment costs. 88% Increased employee satisfaction. 88% of apprentice employers believe that lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce, leading to a greater loyalty and quality. 80% Reduced staff turnover 80% of employers feel that apprenticeships reduce staff turnover 81% greater productivity 81% of apprentice employers say they make their businesses more productive. The average apprenticeship completer increases business productivity by 214 per week. 81% of consumers favour using a company which take on apprentices OVER 200,000 workplaces in England offer Apprenticeships to attract new talent and re-skill existing staff *National Apprenticeship Service research

7 Don t just take our word for it. Here are some examples of employers who have benefited from taking on apprentices through Stoke on Trent College: Company: Drayton Beaumont Who: Lee Rawle, Business Development Manager How do apprenticeships work for your business? "Apprenticeships work very well for us. It's about identifying the right people early on, fine tuning their skills, and then it is all the better for the business when we take them on as employees. We work on some major projects, often with key local development companies, and now have a turnover of about 13 million a year. Over the last few years we've seen a particular investment in the education sector, so a lot of our projects have been in schools. But we can work on anything from a hotel to an airport. Steady growth is what we aim for, and apprenticeships are a part of those expansion plans." Company: Higherland surgery Who: Fiona Macnamara, Practice Manager How has an apprentice helped your business? Our first apprentice started her time with us by shadowing the existing staff and making appointments. She learned very quickly, becoming proficient in dealing with enquiries. She now manages the reception area with total confidence and professionalism. She organises immunisation and minor surgery clinics and scans confidential medical reports on to patient notes. They also operate blood test recalls, which includes printing of the blood forms, and has attended various training courses in issues such as child protection, CPR, and IT. She has become a valuable permanent member of staff working in a full-time position and I would like to see her in a top managerial administrator role within the practice. We re now on the look out for another apprentice following the apprenticeship success. Company: Pets at Home Who: Ryan Cheyne, People Director at Pets a Home How have apprenticeships fit into your business? We have been running qualifications for our colleagues for some time, but recently have been able to offer apprenticeships in Business Improvement and Warehouse techniques. Providing this training increases the skills and knowledge of the individuals working for Pets at Home and helps them become more confident in their roles. They are able to put their newly found knowledge into action and gain additional skills for their future which we hope will be with Pets at Home. People like being invested in and we are now looking at how we can deliver this success across a wider area. How much does an apprentice cost? You can hire an apprentice from as little as 3.30 per hour (from October 2015). The average salary for apprentices is approximately 170 per week making apprentice recruitment the low cost, high gain option for growing your business. Is there any financial support available? The Government provides a substantial amount of funding towards Apprenticeships. The level of funding depends on the age of the apprentice. Apprentices aged 16-18yrs Training is FREE Apprentices aged 19-24yrs Contribution to the cost of the training Apprentices aged 25yrs and over Contribution depends on the sector 1500 Apprenticeship Grant You may be eligible for a 1500 VAT-free AGE Grant if: You employ fewer than 50 staff Your apprentice is aged You have not employed an apprentice in the last 12 months The AGE Grant aims to support businesses who would not otherwise be in a position to recruit individuals aged through the apprenticeship programme. As an employer you can receive up to 5 grants in total. Please contact us to confirm availability and eligibility.

8 How can I recruit an apprentice? If you are interested in Apprenticeships for your business: Decide which department(s) would benefit from Apprentices Apprentices can work in any area of your business from accounts and administration to warehousing and storage Call our Business Services hotline on to let us know what you need. We are open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 4pm. Alternatively, business@stokecoll.ac.uk We will assess your requirements and advise you of the best way to progress We will provide you with an experienced adviser to guide you through the process and to help you find the best Apprentice for your business or advise you on the best ways of developing your existing team. This may include us running a recruitment campaign on your behalf to find suitable candidates, and assessing those who apply to shortlist them for you. Once you have selected the most appropriate person to become an Apprentice, you take them on in your business as an employee and one of our assessors will sign them up onto the specific apprenticeship that has been agreed with you. Can my existing employees become apprentices? Yes. Apprenticeships are a valuable and cost-effective way of training or re-skilling existing employees. Many of the apprentices that are undergoing training with Stoke on Trent College currently are existing employees of local businesses, who are improving their skills through the programme.

9 What will an Apprenticeship involve? The apprentice will be employed by you for at least 30 hours per week (in most circumstances) and be paid a minimum of 3.30 per hour. Training will be on-the-job combined with training by the College which could involve one day a week at the college, block release, or can be entirely in the workplace. The training will vary according to the type of Apprenticeship, but all include the following components: Competence-based element Knowledge-based element Maths, English and ICT Employment Rights and Responsibilities Personal Learning and Thinking Skills An Apprenticeship will usually take between one and four years to complete, depending on the occupation. We will continue to support you and the apprentice throughout the training. A dedicated Assessor will agree a training plan with you and your apprentice and make regular visits to assess their competence and provide on-the-job training.

10 Why choose Stoke on Trent College? Widest Offer As one of the Midland s large colleges we provide training to over 1000 apprentices a year and offer the widest range of apprenticeships locally with over 40 occupations to choose from, and more being developed all the time. Trusted Quality Widely recognised as a provider of high quality technical and vocational training the College has invested significantly in curriculum development and staff in order that it can provide the very best Apprenticeship training to the employers of North Staffordshire and nationwide. Flexible service We work with employers to ensure that training fits in around you. Dedicated support From the moment you get in touch, we provide support and advice every step of the way. Low cost We may be able to help you to access additional funding to support your Apprentice.

11 What else can we offer? Organisational and Training Needs Analysis The first step in making the most of your employees potential is to find out exactly what the organisation needs in terms of skills and then work out how these needs can be met. Our team of Business Advisors can carry out a FREE Organisational and Training Needs Analysis for your business, considering the needs of the organisation as a whole as well as the teams and individuals within the workplace. Recruitment Services When it comes to recruiting apprentices we can help with a comprehensive recruitment service that includes the ability to access work-ready, talented students as they complete their studies with us. The service can include advertising vacancies for your business, receiving and screening applications, then carrying out initial assessments to provide you with a shortlist to carry out final interviews with. Traineeships If you are interested in taking on young people who are not quite work-ready, then offering a Traineeship could be the solution. Traineeships give young people aged the essential work preparation training, English and maths skills and work experience they need to get an apprenticeship or other job in the future. If you can offer them the work experience element, with a genuine opportunity to apply for an apprenticeship or other job at the end of the Traineeship, then this could be the right route for you. Contact the team for more information. Competency based qualifications (NVQs) If you want to improve and certify the skills of your workforce, then our assessors can work with you to develop your employees in the workplace and assess their competence as they develop. Distance Learning We offer a wide range of distance learning qualifications which are nationally recognised and provide you with a cost-effective and flexible way of increasing the knowledge of your workforce. At the present, the qualifications we offer through distance learning are all FREE. Professional qualifications We provide a range of recognised qualifications from industry-leading awarding bodies such as BTEC, NCFE, AAT, CMI, ILM and NEBOSH. Qualifications are a necessary requirement in many industries and we ensure that we provide the most up-to-date provision. Qualifications can be delivered in college, or in some cases, by a blend of distance learning and classroom study. Our tutors are experienced industry practitioners who focus on enabling our learners to achieve the employment outcomes and results. Short courses Short courses are typically classroom based with learning lasting one or two days. They are designed to provide knowledge on a single subject. These courses are typically held during the working day at one of our sites. We regularly add new courses, for details please visit or contact the team on Bespoke training packages Many of our courses can be delivered as part of a tailor-made programme for your business or employees. We are happy to deliver courses on your premises at times to suit you and your organisation or to develop distance learning packages that fit around your working day.

12 Want to know more? Contact us to find out all you need to know about Apprenticeships and help in choosing the right option for you. For more details or to discuss contact the Business Services Team or visit our website: or call Thank you for reading this guide. We are here to work with you to develop your workforce and increase your profitability. linkedin.com/company/stoke-on-trent-college Useful Websites Apprenticeships Cauldon Campus Stoke Road, Shelton, Stoke on Trent, ST4 2DG Burslem Campus Moorland Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 1JJ T E business@stokecoll.ac.uk www. stokecollege.ac.uk/employer Skills Funding Agency Department of Trade & Industry Directgov vwww.direct.gov.uk Health & Safety Executive

13 Cauldon Campus Stoke Road, Shelton, Stoke on Trent, ST4 2DG Burslem Campus Moorland Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 1JJ T E business@stokecoll.ac.uk