Advisers at Bath College are helping employers get to grips with the Government’s new apprenticeship levy.
All employers with a payroll of more than £3m will be asked to contribute to the apprenticeship levy from April next year.
As a result, Bath College’s apprenticeship team is visiting companies across the region to offer information and advice.
Engineering employers are also invited to an event next week at the college’s Somer Valley Campus to kick-start the apprenticeship roadshow.
The event, led by head of department for services to business Barney Willis, will include a presentation on the changes to apprenticeships.
Any businesses interested in speaking to Bath College about changes to apprenticeships are encouraged to get in touch.
Mr Willis said: “This is a huge change for apprenticeships. The Government is not only changing the funding but also the qualifications.
“Businesses will need updating as time goes on, because at the moment the Government hasn’t released all the information.
“There’s funding changes for small businesses, as well as large employers, and Government-funded organisations will have to have 2.3% of their workforces as apprentices.
“We can provide this information, through a five to 10-minute presentation, so that employers can make informed choices.”
Bath College is the largest provider of apprenticeships in Bath and works with a wide range of businesses across the West of England.
It recently hosted a cultural and creative apprenticeships event to look at how creative businesses can take on an apprentice.
Mr Willis said: “We’re constantly exploring new opportunities. We go out and look at the company’s vision for their apprentices and organise a framework to deliver this.
“As part of the changes, there’s going to be a digital apprenticeship service, a website which allows employers to upload their own vacancies and manage their apprenticeship recruitment.
“We can give employers assistance with this. We’re flexible to requirements and passionate about what we do.”
The engineering employers’ event is on Wednesday May 18 from 12.30pm to 2pm.
Firms interested in finding out more about the event or wishing to invite the Bath College apprenticeship team to their business should email Stacey.Harper@bathcollege.ac.uk
Pictured: Barney Willis, Bath College principal Matt Atkinson and Gavin Whitworth, project manager for the Pass the Torch Campaign, which promotes apprenticeships
