Find your place, find your future.
Find your place, find your future.
Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way for any organisation to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. It is also an excellent route for apprentices to kick start a fulfilling career or to upskill an existing member of your staff.
Apprentices receive both on and off the job training which builds up the required knowledge, skills and behaviours your business requires.
Kidderminster College’s dedicated Apprenticeship Team work closely with local business find the best apprentice for your business needs. You will have a dedicated and knowledgeable Employer Engagement lead who will provide you with, advice and support in order to make the process of hiring an apprentice as simple and smooth as possible.
Take a look below to see the many benefits of hiring an apprentice, as well as key employer requirements and information.
We look forward to working with you
We’re glad you asked! Take a look at KC’s ten reasons as to why hiring an apprentice is the right move:
The majority of Apprentice training happens “on-the-job”, where they work with a mentor to learn job specific skills in the workplace, this is where your business is able to mould them to your specific needs.
An apprentice is required to spend at least 20% of their time “off-the-job”. This aspect of training will depend on the occupational area and will be covered in full when you have a chat with our KC Apprenticeship Team.
Typically, apprentices spend up to one day a week at college.
Many of the programmes require the apprentice to build a portfolio of evidence, in addition they will be subject to an End Point Assessment (EPA) which means that they have to be individually deemed competent by a professional person external to the college.
Typically, Apprenticeships can last between 1 year and 5 years.
Many of our KC apprentices progress from one Apprenticeship programme onto the next level. We are proud to boast that 97% of the apprentices KC help train have remained with their employer at the end of the programme, so we have an excellent success rate!
When employers take on a 16-18 year old apprentice they will receive £1,000 to help meet the extra costs associated with this. This will also apply if they employ a 19-24 year old care leaver, or a 19-24 year old with a Local Authority Education, Health Care Plan.
This will be paid to employers in two equal instalments at three months and twelve months from the Apprentices start date.
The Government also are offering additional Covid19 financial incentives up to 31 March 2021- see below for more information.
In addition, depending on which district your apprentice resides, there are additional local grants which you can apply for, see HERE
You can now train existing members of staff under the Apprenticeship programmes, providing them with new skills and clear career progression.
From April 2017 funding has been made available to all graduates, regardless of their experience or age. The Apprenticeship that they are using must be significantly different to the qualifications they already hold so new skills are learned.
In recognition of the value apprentices can bring to our economy, the government have announced details of an incentive payment available to all employers who hire an apprentice.
KEY FACTS
The Apprenticeship Team at Kidderminster College will assist you in recruiting an apprentice free of charge.
There are 3 ways you can recruit an apprentice:
The Apprenticeship Team pride themselves on matching the right candidate to the right vacancy.
To start recruiting for an Apprentice, you will need complete a vacancy template and the work premises checklist. Please note we cannot advertise the vacancy until both forms and returned. Should you require any assistance, we would be happy to help.
Your vacancy will be advertised for 2 weeks.
Once closed we will send you links to your applicants.
The Apprenticeship team will screen all applicants to ensure they meet the entry requirements for the programme.
We will arrange interviews on your behalf.
If you employ 49 or less staff and recruit 16-18-year-old- the government will fully fund 100% of the apprentice training, this also applies if 19-24-year olds who have previously been in care or have a Local Authority Education, Health Care Plan. If you recruit an apprentice aged 19 plus the government fund 95% of the apprentice training and the employer is required to pay a small 5% contribution. This varies from programme to programme and you will be advised accordingly.
If you employ 50 staff or more, the 5% employer contribution will apply regardless of age.
Employer contributions are a one- off cost, you can choose to pay a one-off payment at the start of the Apprenticeship or quarterly payments over the first 12 months of the programme.
Where the apprentice has prior knowledge, skills or experience the cost of training may be reduced. This will be determined at the start of the Apprenticeship.
This applies to employers with a wage bill of £3million or more.
If you are unsure about whether you are an Apprenticeship levy payer please visit The Government Website
If you are an Apprenticeship levy payer, the funds for the apprentice training will be deducted from your digital Apprenticeship account, monthly over the duration of the Apprenticeship
Where levy funds have expired an employer contribution of 5% is required.
Where the apprentice has prior knowledge, skills or experience the cost of training may be reduced. This will be determined at the start of the Apprenticeship.
KC Apprenticeships work with many apprentice levy paying employers, our dedicated Employment Engagement team will be happy to provide you with expert advice on how to utilise your levy funds for new and existing members of staff.
What is an End Point Assessment EPA?
The EPA is designed to test whether each apprentice has gained the skills, knowledge and behaviours outlined in the Apprenticeship standard, at the end of their apprentice training they will be required to go through an EPA gateway. This will be conducted by an organisation independent to the college, the apprentice will need to be deemed competent in order to achieve their Apprenticeship. Typically, the apprentice will be required to build a portfolio of evidence which will be discussed during the EPA.
EPA requirements differ subject to Apprenticeship programmes, you will be advised accordingly.
Off-the-job training is defined as any activity that is not part of an apprentice’s day-to-day role which supports their apprenticeship training.
Off-the-job training must make up at least 20% of an apprentice’s normal working hours. This is a requirement for all apprenticeships and gives the apprentice dedicated time to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours required by the programme.
Managers and apprentices must understand and identify the activities that count towards off-the-job training.
Apprentices are responsible for updating a logbook to record these activities.
Here at Kidderminster College we take the health, safety and well-being of our students very seriously. As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure a safe working environment and to ensure your apprentice is not subject to any unreasonable risks.
Get in touch today with our KC Apprenticeship team and start your Apprenticeship journey with us
01562 826515
Find out about what it takes to become an Apprentice, how it can help you shape your future and how KC Apprenticeships team can help you #FindYourPlace!