The Apprenticeship Levy A Providers Perspective Beej Kaczmarczyk

The Apprenticeship Levy – A Provider’s Perspective Beej Kaczmarczyk Director, Learning Curve Group www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk

How have levy paying employers responded? q. Actively engaged, seeing possibilities and determined to spend the levy wisely and strategically, might actually exceed the money in their digital accounts and go for coinvestment q. Confused, concerned, unable to see possibilities, might write off some or all of the levy initially, waiting to see what others do q. Not sure if we are paying the levy? Have to get out heads round this if we are. q……What and when did this happen? www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk

What have you done to secure contracts with levy paying employers? q. Marketing and branding strategies q. Employer engagement q. Selling the benefits of apprenticeships q. Pricing strategies q. Getting their involvement 3 www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk

Marketing strategies q Build (or rebuild) your brand – values, positioning and personality q Creating a customer experience that brings your brand to life – energising your people, e. g. sales, assessors, tutors, support staff q Communicating your brand offer effectively to the levy paying market q Understanding the target audience and their buying system, sales pitches q Employer events, mail shots, site visits, guest presenting at events/meetings, B 2 B communications, OTNAs q Assist employers with their ‘training provider engagement strategy’ www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk

Effective engagement with levy paying employers Proven track record Sourcing talent Added value Employer decision Embed work based learning Design and delivery Ability to scale up www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk Put yourself in the employer’s shoes who has to pick through the different offerings and identify the provider which best meets their needs

Benefits of apprenticeships in action 1 q. Allows apprenticeships at all levels – ‘new and existing’ staff q. Use public money to invest in our people - levy or government funding q. Develops opportunities for personal growth q. Management development opportunities q. Fit for purpose q. Recognised qualifications and accreditation q. Growth in the levels of competence and capability www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk

Benefits of apprenticeships in action 2 q. Creates a great place to work q. Gives structure to your people development – clear pathways q. Builds on legacy and reputation q. Helps in managing change q. Facilitates change in culture q. Employer of choice q. Great return on investment – improves performance www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk

Pricing and payments strategy Number Band limit 1 £ 1, 500 2 £ 2, 000 3 £ 2, 500 4 £ 3, 000 5 £ 3, 500 6 £ 4, 000 7 £ 5, 000 8 £ 6, 000 9 £ 9, 000 10 £ 12, 000 11 £ 15, 000 12 £ 18, 000 13 £ 21, 000 14 £ 24, 000 15 £ 27, 000 q Every apprenticeship is placed in a funding band with all new starts q Employers can negotiate the best price for the training they require q Price based on full cost of band – emphasis on quality q Incentives – bespoke training, additional qualifications q Added value propositions, e. g. recruitment of talent q Employer contract required – model contracts q Direct debit, BACs and credit card 8 arrangements www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk q Full support service in place for levy payers

Employer involvement? Find an apprenticeship service provider Your personal commitment Agree the best way to deliver and administer Coach and mentor the apprentice regularly Actively and openly support the apprenticeship investment to assessment www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk Agree the price Agree to on-thejob and day release options fit for purpose Use specialists to deliver gaps in internal capability Harness the practical application of learning Cheer on the progress & celebrate success

Contact details www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk E-mail beejkacz@gmail. com Mobile: 07921 587443 www. learningcurvegroup. co. uk 10