Xavier Rolet, CEO, London Stock Exchange Group, said:
“As we celebrate 20 years of AIM providing capital to companies to fund their growth, we are delighted to launch this new SME Apprenticeship Scheme in partnership with City Gateway. SMEs are a key driver of jobs, innovation and economic growth in the UK. Matching the UK’s most dynamic growth companies with talented young people seeking life- changing opportunities is a win-win. We have worked with City Gateway to provide apprentices with careers in the City of London and this new scheme builds on that success. The government’s focus on prioritising the creation of more apprenticeships is key to giving young people a great future and increasing opportunity for all, and we are delighted to be involved.”
Get in. Go far - a guide to Apprenticeships 30 June 2015
You will be aware that from 6 April 2016 employers of certain apprentices under the age of 25 will no longer be required to pay secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions on earnings up to a new Apprentice Upper Secondary Threshold. The Apprentice Upper Secondary Threshold AUST for the tax year 2016/17 will be equal to the Upper Earnings Limit for tax year 2016/17. The relief will introduce a zero rate of secondary Class 1 NICs on earnings up to the AUST, for qualifying apprentices from 6 April 2016 and will apply to both new and existing apprentices. The CIPP policy team will be attending a meeting that aims to discuss definition of apprentice in advance of guidance being issued to employers. If you have any questions at this stage that you think will need to be considered during this review, please contact Samantha Mann via policy .
In the meantime a 7 page guide has been published that aims to ensure that young people can ‘get in and go far’ with an Apprenticeship .
Further details can be found at National Careers Service which includes a webchat service with an adviser or telephone 0800 100 900 which is free from a landline.
Consultation on protecting the term apprenticeship 30 July 2015
The Government announced in Summer Budget 2015 their commitment to achieve 3 million more apprenticeship starts which continues to increase the status of apprenticeships, and the quality that they offer. However this also increases the risk that a small number of training providers may misuse the term ‘apprenticeship’.
The Government has therefore published a consultation with proposals to legislate protection of the term ‘apprenticeship’ to prevent potential misuse.
Employers, parents and prospective apprentices could be misled into thinking they were being offered a high quality Government funded apprenticeship, when this is not the case. Further, the rights and reputations of training providers who do offer statutory apprenticeships could be undermined.
Legally, in the absence of legislation, there is nothing to stop misuse from occurring at present as the term ‘apprenticeship’ or ‘apprentice’ has not been protected in legislation.
Government considers that action is needed to protect the strong reputation of apprenticeships and high quality training providers, prevent the dilution of the apprenticeship brand and give employers confidence that they are investing in a high quality product. This will strengthen their standing, and help ensure that apprenticeships are recognised as a career path equal to higher education.
Proposed option
The proposal is that Government creates an offence which would prohibit a person using the term ‘apprenticeship’ or ‘apprentice’ in relation to any course or training in England unless it is in relation to a Government funded apprenticeship. This would not affect employers who would be free to offer any training to their own employees and apprentices (including those with contracts of apprenticeship).
Employers would still be free to access other skills training from a provider, but the provider would not be able to advertise it as relating to an apprenticeship if it does not relate to approved apprenticeship training. Thus training
CIPP Policy News Journal
25/04/2016, Page 18 of 453
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