With apprenticeships high on the governmental agenda, Steve Willis Training tells us why it is blazing a trail to higher standards.
At Steve Willis Training we’re proud to be at the forefront of the new developments in electrical apprenticeship training which we think will lead to better training provision and higher standards across the industry.
Funding amendments
The changes we’ve seen this year come from the government’s push to improve and expand apprenticeship provision across the country. This has involved a major change to how apprenticeships are funded, with the introduction of the apprenticeship levy which will be paid by all employers with an annual payroll over £3 million.
Most electrical apprentices don’t work for such big organisations, however, and for the many small electrical businesses with less than 50 employees the government is continuing to fully fund apprentices aged 16-18, and some 19-24 year olds (depending on their circumstances). The employer contribution for older apprentices has reduced from 50% to 10% under the new funding rules.
Add to this the £1,000 incentive payment available to employers taking on a 16-18 year old, and employing an electrical apprentice becomes a very cost-effective way to meet your staffing needs and plan for the future of your business.
Standard bearers
As well as the changes to apprenticeship funding, the introduction of new Apprenticeship Standards with End Point Assessment will continue to safeguard the standard of training for electrical apprentices. Steve Willis Training Centres will be delivering this new Electrical Apprenticeship Standard from Autumn 2017.
The Standard describes the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of an apprentice during the training phase of their programme. Standards have been developed by employer groups and the Electrical Standard includes completion of the City & Guilds 5357 Level 3 Electrotechnical qualification. The End Point Assessment then takes place once all training activity is complete and when the employer agrees they’re ready.
As an employer, once you’ve decided to take on an apprentice, you need to be sure that you choose the right training provider and get value for money with the highest quality apprenticeship programme for your employee.
Government register
As of May 1st apprenticeship training can now only be delivered by organisations listed on the government’s new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers. There’s a rigorous assessment process in place to ensure that providers meet the high standards required to be listed on the Register, and we were delighted that our application was successful at the first attempt. With success rates for our apprenticeships running well above the national average, you can be assured that your apprentice will access a robust and challenging learning programme at Steve Willis Training.
If you’re not looking for an apprentice, Steve Willis Training Centres offer a full range of professional short courses, including 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, Inspection & Testing and Design. And, of course, the draft publication of the 18th Edition of BS7671 is now open for public comment. Keep an eye on our website for the latest news on the release.
