Guide to Apprenticeships Booklet_NOV2024

A Guide to Apprenticeships

employer engagement

Welcome We are delighted you are considering taking on an apprentice with us. This handbook will provide you with information about the apprenticeships available at Barnsley College, so you can make an informed decision on what to do next. We hope you find this guide useful.

What is an apprenticeship?

Anyone living in the UK for at least the last three years, aged 16 or over and not in full-time education can become an apprentice. A key element of an apprenticeship is work- based experience. We can assist you to advertise your vacancy, shortlist candidates and arrange interviews.We can help you to find a vacancy and provide CV and interview workshops. Information about how to apply for vacancies can be found later in this information booklet. As employees, apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills and knowledge. Apprentices will usually attend classes at College for one day per week and for the remainder of the week they will be in the workplace. Here, they will produce a portfolio of evidence which shows their trainer what they are able to do and records their achievements as they progress through the apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships can take between one and five years to complete depending on the level of the apprenticeship, the apprentice’s ability and the industry. There is a minimum salary for apprentices set by the Government, however, many apprentices earn significantly more. Benefits of doing an apprenticeship Apprenticeships are a great way of gaining relevant skills as well as practical experience that employers are always looking for.

Key benefits: • Earn a salary. • Receive training. • Learn job-specific skills. • Develop a career. • Increase future earning potential.

What are T Levels? T Levels are courses for 16- to 18-year-olds that are studied at the same level as doing A Levels. They are for young people who prefer a more technical education when they come to College, rather than following a purely academic pathway, or a work-based apprenticeship. They offer a nationally recognised certificate which employers use in their recruitme

T Levels provide a mixture of: • Technical knowledge and practical skills specific to the student’s chosen industry or occupation. • An industry placement of at least 45 days in their chosen industry or occupation. Watch this short Government video to hear why students find completing industry placements so beneficial. • Relevant Maths, English and digital skills. • Common workplace skills.

What can I do with a T Level qualification? When you have completed a T Level course, you will be able to choose

between moving into: • A skilled occupation.

• Higher or degree level apprenticeships. • Further study including Higher Technica • Qualifications or Higher Education.

How do apprenticeships compare to other pathways?

Once you have completed your GCSEs you can progress onto a variety of qualification pathways. Use the table below to see how apprenticeships compare with traditional routes of study.

Apprenticeship Level

Equivalent education level Five GCSEs (grade A*/9 - C/4) Level 2 BTEC First / NVQ

Intermediate

Two A Level passes / Level 3 BTEC Diploma / T Level / NVQ / Award / Certificate / Access to HE Diploma

Advanced

Higher Degree

4/5 HNC / HND / Foundation Degree 6/7 Bachelor’s / Master’s Degree

FUNDING: APPRENTICESHIP LEVY AND NON-LEVY EMPLOYERS

The Apprenticeship Levy stipulates the way that apprenticeships are funded. Levy-paying businesses • Businesses with a wage bill of £3million or above are classed as levy paying businesses and must pay the levy. The levy is paid directly to HMRC through the PAYE process. • The levy is 0.5% of the employer’s wage bill including all earnings that are subject to class 1 National Insurance contributions. • There is a levy allowance of £15,000 per year. So, employers pay 0.5% of their wage bill less £15,000. • In addition, the government applies a 10% top-up to the funds deposited into the employer’s apprenticeship service account. Funds are credited into the Digital Apprenticeship Scheme. • Employers may transfer funds to other employers through the Digital Apprenticeship Scheme. Transfers can be made to any employer, including smaller employers in their supply chain, and apprenticeship training agencies. Levy-paying employers can transfer up to 10% of the annual value of funds entering their apprenticeship service account.

Non-Levy paying businesses • Businesses with a wage bill under £3million are classed as non-levy paying. • Employers are required to pay 5% towards the cost of training, the government will pay the remaining 95%. • Employers with fewer than 50 employees may qualify for fully funded apprenticeships for apprentices aged 16-18 at the start of the programme. Incentive opportunities for employers • Funding and incentives are frequently - employ an apprentice aged 16-18 at the start of their course (note that a new apprentice enrolling at age 18 can still be funded). - employ an apprentice aged under 25 who has an Educational Health Care Plan (ECHP) or is in local authority care. Our team can help you to obtain any funding that you are entitled to when you invest in an apprenticeship. Contact us by emailing employer@barnsley.ac.uk. available to employers. In particular, those who:

What apprenticeships are offered at Barnsley College? We have a range of apprenticeships to suit everyone’s needs, from Accountancy to Warehousing and Logistics.

The range includes: • Accounting and Finance • Automotive Technologies • Beauty Therapy • Bricklaying • Business Administration • Carpentry and Joinery • Catering • Childcare • Computing and IT • Creative and Digital Media • Customer Service • Dental • Digital Marketing • Electrical Engineering

• Engineering • Hairdressing • Health • Horticulture • Management

• Plastering • Plumbing • Professional Advice and Guidance • Science • Teaching • Warehousing and Logistics We offer over 70 apprenticeship programmes. To see the full list visit: www.barnsley.ac.uk/apprenticeships

10 reasons why employing an apprentice will benefit your organisation

Apprenticeships are flexible training programmes which mix assessment and training in the workplace with teaching in the classroom or workshop, validated with a variety of exams and practical assessments. 1. Grow and develop your team while keeping costs down Anyone can complete an apprenticeship programme, regardless of age or experience, you can enrol your existing employees. Recruitment is a time consuming job, but our experts make it a straight-forward and simple process. Our team will help to devise a bespoke training plan tailored to your business’ needs. We will also advertise your vacancy, shortlist candidates and arrange interviews. Once the apprentice starts the apprenticeship programme, their dedicated trainer will provide you with regular updates.

the business. Employing an apprentice and introducing a mentoring system helps those skills to be retained within the business, ensuring the skills are passed on to future recruits. We will work with your HR department on succession planning and workforce analysis, identifying and nurturing talented employees. Boost productivity Training helps employees to be more competent in their role. We can work with you to agree on a flexible training schedule in order to minimise disruption to your apprentice’s working day. Access the latest industry knowledge and technology Apprentices access up-to-date technology and knowledge which may help your business become more efficient, profitable and competitive in the future. Enhanced brand image and reputation Employing apprentices has a positive impact on a company’s corporate social responsibility and will help to build a strong brand image and reputation for investing in staff. Motivate your employees Having a trained workforce who have the right skills, knowledge and equipment to fulfil their duties will lead to increased job satisfaction, productivity and profitability. programmes are available on a variety of levels, offering progression options for all of your employees to develop new skills and progress within the organisation. Our Academies Barnsley College proudly partners with more than 20 organisations across industries – such as Evri, GXO, and Barnsley Council – on our Academy scheme. These employer-led partnerships give students access to more high-quality education and training. In return, businesses are offered a fully-branded, opportunities for talks and guest sessions, and access to the next generation of talent.

Provide someone with a career opportunity

Employing an apprentice provides someone with an opportunity to start their career. You can mould the apprentice to work how you want them to work and fit within your business’ culture and in return your apprentice will grow into a loyal employee. Address a skills gap Apprenticeships combine on-the-job experience with off-the-job training. This means that your business benefits from a workforce that has the right blend of practical experience, skills and knowledge. Utilise your Apprenticeship Levy contributions to upskill your existing workforce Apprenticeship programmes can help existing employees and new recruits to develop fresh skills or progress to a higher position within the organisation. We can work with you to develop and implement your existing staff development plans. Plan for the future A workforce has lots of skills and experience but these can be lost if employees leave

10. Career progression

Want to know more? Call 01226 216 166 or email employer@barnsley.ac.uk.

Step 1: Job description Creating an appealing job description is the key to ensuring you receive a good number of applicants. Barnsley College can support you with this and provide example templates for you to adapt to suit your vacant role. Our department specialists will need to approve each new vacancy to ensure it meets the requirements of the apprenticeship standard or framework. A step-by-step guide to advertising an apprenticeship vacancy Step 2: Apply Candidates can access your vacancy via www.gov.uk/apply- apprenticeship as well as Barnsley College’s Apprenticeship Vacancies page; www.barnsley.ac.uk/ap-jobs . All apprenticeship vacancies are managed by your dedicated Business Development Account Manager, who will keep you updated on the progress of your applications. Step 3: Approval session All candidates will be invited into College to attend an approval session with a Trainer; bringing with them proof of prior qualifications and a copy of their CV. Barnsley College will provide an information session where candidates will be given an overview of apprenticeship delivery and specifics about their chosen roles.

Step 4: Interview shortlisting We will send approved CVs to you and you will then select the candidates you wish to interview. Step 5: Employer interview We take your provided interview date and time slots

and we

book interviews on your behalf.

Step 6: Induction Once you have selected a successful candidate, Barnsley College will arrange an induction date to start the apprentice’s journey.

Step 7: Apprenticeship start!

From your initial enquiry through to the successful completion of your apprentice’s training, we’ll advise and support you all the way.

what our employer partners say

“Unlike other providers, Barnsley College don’t require students to have English and Maths qualifications at enrolment. Our apprentices are taught these key skills as part of their apprenticeship which allows us to recruit based on attitude and train for skills, in order to give an opportunity to someone who might otherwise miss out. The new Apprenticeship Standards cover all the skills we need so that we don’t have to invest in additional training.” Angela Wraith Practice Manager, Kimberworth Park Dental Practice “Our more experienced engineers are able to pass on their knowledge, skills and experience to the younger recruits coming through our Academy, and our newly qualified apprentices are also mentoring the new recruits, which gives them management experience to enrich their skillset. Our apprentices have a very specific progression pathway that is determined from the outset of their employment with the business, and the assurance that we are investing in their future. Our commitment to their development is important to them and helps us to be a great employer of choice, it’s also key to our ability to retain them.” Gavin Day Organisational Development Manager, Premdor Crosby Ltd. (Part of the Masonite Group) “The College has great facilities and amazing talent coming through that will keep businesses like ours going forward. We’re always on the lookout for individuals that are going to fit well within our organisation. Although students in our Academy at the Automotive Technologies Centre are learning to be a technician, that might not necessarily be the route they end up going down, and we can present different opportunities to them. We have already brought a lot of people in our organisation through from those apprenticeship routes or different roles into more senior roles – our CEO Matt Barrick used to be a technician – we’re very much about helping develop people to fulfil their potential.” Vanessa Warrington Talent and People Manager, Car Supermarket

Empower Your Business with Digital Apprenticeships from Barnsley College? In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, digital transformation is not just a trend but a necessity. Companies across industries leverage digital tools and platforms to enhance efficiency, improve customer experience, and stay competitive in a global marketplace.

According to the South Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan, employment in the sector regionally is expected to grow by 8.2% by 2035. Achieving this transformation requires skilled, agile talent that can adapt to new technologies and drive organisational change. This is where digital apprenticeships play a crucial role, bringing… • Fresh perspectives • Specialised knowledge • Immediate impact alongside long-term investment. Level 3 • Content Creator The driving force behind engaging and powerful storytelling, a Content Creator develops visual, written and audio content for social media, broadcast and print. By producing high-quality and valuable content across various channels, these creative pioneers help businesses establish authority and build meaningful connections with their target audience. Moreover, these creatives adapt to evolving trends and preferences, ensuring that businesses remain agile and competitive in their content marketing efforts - which is paramount for their survival in a rapidly changing marketplace.

• Cyber Security Technician Found in all sectors where information is held digitally and needs to be protected, Cyber Security Technicians provide first- line cyber security support. This requires individuals to monitor and detect potential security threats, and to support secure and uninterrupted business operations through the implementation of cyber security controls. Contributing to understanding of security, vulnerabilities and threats across an organisation, this role is crucial to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. • Digital Marketer • Digital Support Technician • Information Communications Technician • Software Development Technician This occupation is found in every sector in organisations ranging from large multi-nationals, public sector bodies and government projects developing multi- billion-pound software solutions to support key projects to small consultancy firms designing bespoke software solutions for clients. Understanding a client’s requirements as provided in design specification and then building and testing high-quality code solutions to deliver the best outcome, Software Development Technicians help to create computer programmes, applications and systems – controlling everything from e-commerce to traffic lights or train networks.

Level 4 • Cyber Security Technologist • Data Analyst Data Analysts may work in various departments within a single employer, and in any employment sector, public or private – including retail, distribution, defence, banking, logistics, media, or local government. Data analysis is a process of requirement-gathering, inspecting, cleansing, transforming and modelling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making. For example: a data analyst may investigate social media trends and their impact on the organisation. In retail, a data analyst may break down sales figures to make recommendations on product placement and development. In HR, a data analyst may investigate staff retention rates.

“The digital offering at Barnsley College is strong, and the facilities are exemplary. We’ve got it all: Esports arenas, photography studios and industry-ready software. The digital marketing aspect of the course has given me a clearer understanding of how to grow my employer’s business through its digital platforms. The course has also given me plenty of opportunities to develop my skills in software packages when designing, and content management systems.” Harvey Hunsley Content Creator (Level 3)

• Software Developer • Marketing Executive

Drive your business’s marketing success with strategic, data driven individuals who can create impactful campaigns and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape. A Marketing Executive crafts, executes and refines campaigns that captivate audiences and drive business growth. By blending strategic insight with creativity, these professionals shape compelling brand narratives, optimise multi-channel marketing efforts and turn customer engagement into measurable success.

Do you have any questions about how an apprentice can take your business to the next level? Contact us: 01226 216 166 employer@barnsley.ac.uk

or fill out our Contact Us form

Postal address Church Street Barnsley South Yorkshire S70 2YW 01226 216 123 info@barnsley.ac.uk www.barnsley.ac.uk

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