For Employers
Raising the nation’s productivity is one of the UK Government’s top priorities for the next 5 years and their goal is for young people, adults in work or seeking a new career and employers to see apprenticeships as a high quality and prestigious path to successful careers at all levels.
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To this end the UK Govt has committed to increase the quality and quantity of apprenticeships in England, reaching three million starts in 2020 and putting employers at the heart of this ambition,
As an employer, you can base your whole staff recruitment and development organisational strategy around Apprenticeships. You can view our Apprenticeship providers by sector here.
Types of apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are available in a wide range of industry sectors with employers from large national companies to smaller local companies, covering more than 170 industries and 1,500 job roles; from advertising to youth work via environmental engineering and nuclear decommissioning.
By clicking on a link, this will take you to the range of apprenticeship frameworks available in the chosen sector and some useful Youtube clips:​
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Construction, planning and the built environment apprenticeships
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Information and communication technology (ICT) apprenticeships
​​Benefits to employers
Apprenticeships deliver real benefits to business and people. They represent an excellent investment for both Government and employers:
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Increased profitability
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A more talented and diverse workforce
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Cost effective recruitment and induction
The 2015 Apprenticeship employer survey found that high satisfaction levels were reflected in the proportion of employers who would recommend apprenticeships to others (83%).
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Employers experienced a wide range of benefits as a result of training apprentices.
Improved productivity, product or service quality, staff morale, staff retention and image in the sector, as well as generating new ideas, were all cited by at least two-thirds of employers, with improved productivity the most frequently cited benefit (76%).
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To enable the Govt to fund growth in Apprenticeships, put employers in the driving seat when designing apprenticeships, and ensuring they are fit for business purpose, the Govt has produced a programme of reforms. This includes a new levy on larger employers, an expansion in the number of Apprenticeships available (new Apprenticeship standards designed by employers) and an enlarged and more responsive system for exploring apprenticeship training partners.
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Employers pay an Apprentice’s wages but the training element may be funded by Govt, co-funded or if you are an employer with a pay bill over £3m, you will pay a new Levy and can claim the money back to spend on your Apprenticeship training.
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The Western Training Provider Network is a collaborative network of further education colleges, training providers and a local Universtiy that have been successfully delivering Apprenticeships to employers in the West of England for over 20 years and deliver over 60% of all Apprenticeships in the region, both new recruits for employers and Apprenticeship qualifications for existing staff.
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Our members can help you:
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Design an Apprenticeship programme for your business to ensure you are making the most of staff development and skills aquisition
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Help you recruit the best local talent for your business, help you design the developement programme for these new recruits:
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Help you design an apprenticeship development programme for your existing staff
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Help you navigate the new levy and reforms agenda
What do you want to discover further?
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More about the levy and reforms beginning in the spring 2017?
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Learn more about the WTPN Apprenticeship delivery organisations and Apprenticeship sectors?
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Learn about potential grants available to employers in the West of England?
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You can explore these topics further by clicking on the tabs above.
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The WTPN also has regional strategic partnerships that may be of benefit to you, the following links could help you discover more about Apprenticeships and skills related enquiries:
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West of England LEP Apprenticeship hub
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Business West Skills West service