COMPLIANCE
Apprenticeships take centre stage
Helen Hargreaves MSc ChFCIPPdip, head of payroll, MBKB, tells us why now is the time for payroll apprenticeships to take their space in the spotlight
W hen you think of apprenticeships what’s your first thought? Go on, everyone has an idea of what an apprenticeship is. Maybe you think it’s only for young people, the next step after leaving school? Maybe you think an apprentice is the person who makes the tea and sweeps the floor? Well, I have news for you… apprenticeships have changed, and now is the time for apprenticeships to take their place in the spotlight. Why are apprenticeships different? You may have heard the phrase, ‘created by the profession for the profession’ but what does this mean? Most payroll qualifications focus on building knowledge rather than learning skills, but, just like when we learnt trigonometry at school, there’ll be some of that knowledge that students never need or ever use again. Payroll apprenticeships, on the other hand, have been created by a trailblazer group to give apprentices all the knowledge, skills and behaviours they’ll need to do their jobs. The trailblazer is a group of employers, representative of those in the payroll profession. The trailblazer writes the occupational Standard as well as designing the end point assessment. Of course, the Standard teaches knowledge, but the very practical way of learning means it also incorporates skills and behaviours needed in the role. Using those who actually employ people in payroll means the qualification is designed to meet employer needs, so those who pass the qualification are fully competent in their roles.
The government pays Money matters, now more than ever. And let’s be honest, the learning and development budget is usually the first one to suffer. Which is where apprenticeships really come into their own, because not only does an apprenticeship deliver a high-quality qualification most, if not all, of the cost is covered by the government. Large employers who pay the apprenticeship levy can use funds in their apprenticeship service account to pay for the cost of training and assessment. Smaller employers who don’t pay the levy can access funding from the government to cover up to 95% of the cost. This isn’t nearly as difficult as it sounds, and your apprenticeship training provider can help you access these funds. They can help you in the process of recruiting apprentices too. An apprenticeship is an attractive option for those studying because apprenticeships are real jobs which allow apprentices to earn a wage while they work towards their qualification. And as the cost of training is already covered, and there are no additional fees to pay, apprentices don’t need to take out a student loan to complete their studies. Age is but a number The great news is that apprenticeships are for everyone. If an apprentice is learning there’s no age limit; the only requirements are that the apprentice must: l be over 16 l not be in full-time education, and l live in England (there are different rules for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). This means apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers or new employees. Quite the opposite in fact, as they’re a
great opportunity to increase existing staff’s skills, knowledge and confidence. And young apprentices get the opportunity to gain practical working experience, as well as industry-specific knowledge. In England, there are currently two levels of payroll apprenticeship: a Level 3 Payroll Administrator, and a Level 5 Payroll Assistant Manager, giving opportunities to those who have more experience in the industry, as well as those who are new to the profession. The latest statistics from GOV.UK reveal that almost half of apprentices (47.4%) are over the age of 25, which may come as a surprise to many. The statistics can be located here: http://ow.ly/jSqo50LV8Sp. This just goes to show that many experienced professionals are seizing the opportunity to undertake in-depth training relevant to the role they’re working in. Because apprenticeships, unlike university or college, provide a mix of hands-on experience and tutor-led learning, helping students develop all the skills they need in their current role, as well as gaining new ones, which will help them to progress their career even further. Apprentices in the spotlight I’m often asked whether an apprenticeship qualification is recognised by the industry. Well, I hope this is the last time I hear that question. With this issue of Professional celebrating National Apprenticeship Week, and the CIPP offering complimentary affiliate membership to all payroll apprentices, it highlights the respect shown towards apprenticeships. It’s now time for payroll apprentices everywhere to step onto the stage and take a bow – the spotlight is all yours. n
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | February 2023 | Issue 87 18
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