BRPPA and their members offer a range of educational courses. Full course details can be found belowPost-18 Education
On 19 February the PM announced a wide-ranging review of Post 18 education and its funding.
The Government’s wide-ranging review will focus on the following four areas:
Apprenticeships
Government data shows that in the 6 months that followed the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in April 2017 apprenticeship starts fell by 41% compared to the same period the previous year. In addition, the Open University has published a report which shows that more than £1bn in apprenticeship funding available through the apprenticeship levy has not yet been used – leaving employers with just a year to spend the remaining funds.
Science Industry Partnership, which inter alia covers our sector, in common with many employers across all sectors of the economy, have continued to press for changes to the design and the functioning of the apprenticeship levy. It makes a number of specific recommendations.
Increase the time to spend levy funds from 24 months to 36 months
Levy funds currently only last 24 months, which is not long enough for science employers, not least because the length of an apprenticeship in STEM can be up to 48 months. To this end, the SIP would like to request an increase in the amount of time employers have to spend their levy to 36 months.
Increase the amount of funding employers can transfer
Employers are now able to transfer 10% of their apprenticeship funds to another organisation if they do not want to use their full pot. SIP members say this is not enough and that employers should be able transfer more of their levy pot. This could, for example, help to facilitate group training schemes – a particular consideration for specialist skills – from applied bioscience through to robotics for cell handling, where viable cohorts are needed to make the training economic for providers.
Speed up the process for approval of new Standards and ensure IfA is a robust regulator
Some STEM Standards, where there is real demand, have not been available to employers in a timely manner, leading to some frustration from companies and providers, and reduced ability for SIP employers to maximise the return for their levy. The Institute for Apprenticehips (IfA) has recently published reforms to streamline the way it works through its much welcome Faster and Better Programme and the SIP looks forward to the swift implementation of this. The SIP would also like to see the IfA operate long term as a robust regulator, with a clear focus on quality over quantity.
Re-consider the 20% off-the-job training rule
The 20% off-the-job training rule is a significant barrier to using the levy effectively to upskill/reskill the existing workforce. The rule states that off-the job apprenticeship training must be “completed within contracted hours” so, for example, distance learning conducted in an employee’s own time does not count. A number of SIP members have stated that it is extremely challenging for their established workforce to be ‘non-productive’ for the equivalent of a day a week, and this has restricted the use of apprentice-based training for vital upskilling and reskilling. In addition, such a move would mean that the individual learner could make a contribution, through utilisation of their own time; this would mean more of co-investment approach to the learner’s upskilling programme.
Build and invest in a responsive local training provider market through the devolution of skills agenda
The apprenticeship reform programme was brought in at speed, with employers paying the levy, but with some important Standards not necessarily being available, and specialist training not accessible in an employer’s local area. This has resulted in the employers’ levy “purchasing power” being somewhat diminished. For example, feedback from SIP employers in the science-heavy Oxford-Cambridge area, tells us that while they are keen to take on R&D apprentices, the specialist provision is not always available to them. This should be addressed through the devolution of skills agenda, and would see funding being directed to providers based on what is needed in the local area and to meet the needs of the industries that underpin the local economy.
Using levy funding for Group Schemes to support SMEs
The science sector is keen to develop proposals, which explore how unspent levy funds might be utilised to increase the supply of apprentices into SMEs and the supply chain. The ability to utilise unspent levy funding in this way would allow smaller supply chain companies who may never have taken on apprentices to test the water, form viable provider cohorts and see if it is a useful recruitment method for them. Such Group Schemes need funding for set up, management and community engagement, and this would be an ideal solution with long-term benefits.
Rubber technology training
The sandwich course in rubber technology at a level equivalent to BTEC level 3, is being currently run, as before on a private basis by Charanjit Chodha as tutor in Leicester, with 9-10 students. Further work is being done by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) on the option of their taking on formally the accreditation and running of the course, from their site in Grantham, and the aim is to complete this work in the course of the summer. The intention is to bounce off the proposals with employers, through the Elastomer Training Action Group, before they are finalised.
Other courses are available through:
