Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are an opportunity to train people and they are open to all organisations. Whether you are recruiting new talent or developing your existing staff, Apprenticeships help to build the knowledge, skills and behaviours your team need to succeed.

They are for people of all ages and levels. They can include degrees or chartered status and provide a valuable pathway to develop your people, your way – no matter what sector you are operating in.

Here are a few of the benefits of Apprenticeships reported by businesses:

£400 a month reduction on office costs

20% improvement in staff retention saving £2,500 per person in recruitment

£90,000 added to the bottom line through better productivity

Support for employers

Take on an Apprentice

If you are thinking of taking on an Apprentice, then register for the Take on an Apprenticeship Skills Pledge. An expert will be in touch to support you and give you impartial advice.

Apprenticeship Grant – funded by Lancashire County Council as part of their Economic Recovery & Growth Fund

All grants have been allocated but we still are accepting businesses to join a waiting list if some applicants drop off.

To support the growth of Apprenticeships, Lancashire County Council is offering grants of £3,000 for eligible employers who recruit an apprentice (under the age of 30) to undertake an Apprenticeship.  The grant is available for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)  with premises in Lancashire.  Aimed at those employers who have not utilised apprenticeships in the past (or have not done so in the last two years).  To find out more either register for the Skills Pledge or email paul.hannant@lancashirelep.co.uk

To find out which Apprenticeships Lancashire apprenticeship training providers offer, look at the handy SORTED guide.

The Lancashire Levy Transfer Network

The Lancashire Levy Transfer Network enables Lancashire businesses to get the support they need to access apprenticeship training for their staff

Organisations in both the private and public sectors that have a wage bill of more than £3 million are required to pay the apprenticeship levy. They can transfer up to 50 percent of their levy funding to any other employer.

The Network aims to simplify the process of matching up businesses for mutual benefit; levy-payers do not lose their underspent funds to a central government pot and instead, the maximum amount is utilised.

Full support to recruit, secure training as well as the funding is available where needed.

Organisations wanting to learn more can visit the Lancashire Levy Transfer Network website or email info@LLTN.org.uk for more information.

Apprenticeship Ambassador Network

Join the Network and promote your apprenticeship opportunities to young people in school, college or university and grow your talent pipeline. The Network champions Apprenticeships by sharing real stories and dispelling myths.

As well as promoting the opportunities in your business, it will raise the profile of your sector, and some of our Ambassadors have won prestigious awards.

If you are interested in becoming an Apprenticeship Ambassador, then register for the Become an Apprenticeship Ambassador Skills Pledge. An expert will be in touch to help.

Support for Education Institutions

Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge for Schools and Colleges (ASK)

The ASK programme is designed to give schools, school sixth forms and colleges free support to develop and transform how students, parents, teachers and governors think about apprenticeships. There are materials, resources and activities from Years 7 to 13.

What that support looks like for you will depend on your establishment’s size, focus and requirements, but it could include an inspiring apprenticeship awareness assembly, apprenticeship application workshop, apprenticeship ambassador talk, careers fair attendance, free resources, a teacher CPD session or a whole range of other options. All options are available to be delivered in-person, online or virtually, depending on the needs of the school/college.

If you would like someone to deliver an ASK session go here for further information or contact the Lancashire Forum ASK Support Team on 01254 306831 or email cath@lancsforum.co.uk

Apprenticeship Ambassadors

Apprenticeship Ambassadors can attend school events and careers fairs to promote Apprenticeships and will deliver presentations to school assemblies or at college events/conferences. They can promote all Apprenticeships from Intermediate to Higher Apprenticeships. Go here to book an Apprenticeship Ambassador.

Amazing Apprenticeship Service

This national service was founded to tackle misconceptions about apprenticeships and promote the benefits. It has a wealth of free resources and activities for young people and their families, schools, colleges. They create and deliver resources from posters and guides to films and live employer broadcasts, go here for further information.