Education and training

Apprenticeships

You can use apprenticeship funding to upskill and reskill your current staff as well as draw in new people to create homegrown talent, trained in the way you want to do business. The process is part-funded by the Government and large businesses (with UK paybills of £3 million or more) have to pay automatically into a levy to help fund apprenticeships.

 

Ways you can make more of apprenticeships:

  • Upskill existing team members
  • Bring in new talent for on and off-the-job training to build capacity as you equip them with the skills to succeed and draw them into your team culture
  • SMEs and charities can reach out to companies to use their unspent levy so a great way to build local talent and fill skills gap where funds are tight
  • Large businesses can gift unused apprenticeship levy to local businesses and charities which can match your values-driven work supporting your community

Common questions about apprentices that businesses ask me:

  • How do I manage off-the-job training?

  • Do I have to employ the apprentice when their training is finished?

  • How do I deal with the funding – I’m confused by the levy process?

  • How do I choose a training provider?

  • What does ‘good’ look like in my programme?

  • How can I incorporate my existing training within an apprenticeship programme? 

Develop your business with apprenticeships

I can help you set up, deliver and create future plans for your apprenticeship programme. With over 30 years’ experience in apprenticeships and building skills within teams, I know how apprenticeships can create a sustainable and successful way to deliver your business goals and objectives. The changing apprenticeship system in England has left many confused and they’re delaying taking on apprentices. My experience can bring you the clarity you need.

Apprenticeship Consultancy

Working with you, I provide a thorough review of your organisation’s skills needs, any identified skills gap, where you might have a vacancy to fill or where there is a need to upskill your leaders and managers. I design a flexible, bespoke apprenticeship programme using the apprenticeship options that match your job roles and organisation goals. Together we’ll create a plan for delivery and identify a suitable training provider that fits your culture and organisation. Through dedicated time with you and your leaders, underpinned by coaching techniques, I’ll upskill your leaders, managers and teams with the knowledge to manage and run a successful apprenticeship programme.

 

Generate Success through Apprenticeships 

Apprenticeships can be used to upskill your current workforce as well as fill skills gaps and create your next generation of talent. This session will help you navigate the Government’s regulations and policy to get more out of apprenticeships – from selecting and monitoring training providers, to maximizing government funding. Whether you’ve an established apprenticeship programme or are dipping your toe for the first time, you’ll leave with a greater knowledge of apprenticeships and a selection of simple steps you can implement to create a richer apprenticeship programme

 Recommended time: 1 day

Coaching and Mentoring Apprentices 

With the introduction of the new apprenticeship standards, there is more reliance than ever on managers supporting and developing apprentices in the workplace.  In this session managers will learn questioning and coaching techniques, how to create a holistic apprenticeship training experience, using coaching and mentoring and gain an understanding of why coaching and mentoring is integral part of an apprentices training.

 Recommended time: 1 day

WHAT OTHERS SAY

“Working with Edwina helped us to find our way through to accessing unspent levy and led to one of our corporate partners gifting their unspent levy to cover the cost of training for some of our apprentices.  Edwina was extremely supportive and professional througout.” 

Danielle Gleave, Head of Volunteering and Training, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust