Focus Awards Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to help shape the future of an organisation and to gain highly trained staff with a funding contribution from Government. Apprenticeships offer the opportunity to earn a living and obtain the skills needed for a career and can last from 1 to 4 years, depending on the level of qualifications the apprentice is studying for.

Apprentices are typically aged 16 or over and combine working with studying for work and knowledge -based qualifications, ranging from a Level 2 programme equivalent to GCSEs – up to degree level. The frameworks include numeracy and literacy skills (Functional Skills) at different levels depending on the framework if the learner has not achieved GCSE Maths and English already.

We offer a wide range of Apprenticeship frameworks recognised for funding in the following sectors

• Business Administration.
• Customer Service.
• Health and Social Care.
• Play work.
• Sport and Fitness.
• Teaching and Learning.

 

Functional Skills

Functional Skills are a vital part of the Apprenticeship Framework covering the essential knowledge, skills and understanding needed to operate confidently and independently in everyday life and work. These skills are in English, Mathematics and Information Technology. We can offer assessment of these either paper-based or on-line.

Apprenticeship Funding

Apprenticeships in England are undergoing reform, enabling employers to have a more direct input into the content of the Apprenticeship. From 2017 a new funding structure will also be in place.

Current arrangements are as follows which shows the Government contribution to the overall funding rates.

Provision                                                             16-18                     19=-23                  24+

Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship            100%                     50%                      40%

Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship                  100%                     50%                      40%

Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship                                                     50%                        40%

Each framework has a funding base rate which can be found on the SFA Hub, Learning Aim Reference Service.

Apprenticeship Levy

In the July 2015 budget the Government announced a plan for an Apprenticeship levy. The large employer levy is planned to partially fund Apprenticeships. More information is available

• Apprenticeships levy: employer owned apprenticeships training: government response August 2015 (   https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/apprenticeships-levy-employer-owned-apprenticeships-training )
• AELP Briefing Paper No 29, The Apprenticeship levy Questions and Answers (   http://www.aelp.org.uk/news/submissions/details/aelp-briefing-paper-no29-the-apprenticeship-levy-q/ )

For more information about the content of our Apprenticeships and any of the above call us for a chat on 0845 8620 068, or send an email to apprenticeships@focusawards.org.uk. We’d be glad to help.

 

N/A – this means there is not a requirement for a qualification in this section