12 | Aycliffe Today Business
Pictured ( left to right ): South West Durham Training senior business development Ian Nelson and chief executive Lee Childs with County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network director of operations Ben Gilhespy and former Ebac managing director Pamela Petty , who ’ s now chair of the Bishop Auckland College board and a director of Aycliffe Business Park Community .
Training provider takes the front foot on apprenticeship levy
South West Durham Training celebrates its 50th year on Aycliffe Business Park later this year . The training provider recently held an employer event on the apprenticeship levy , and also recognised outstanding achievement ’ s at the organisation ’ s 49th annual awards presentation .
Aycliffe Today editor Martin Walker attended both events ...
Some of the region ’ s biggest employers have been urged to take advantage of the apprenticeship levy , which comes into force later this year .
From April , the way the government funds apprenticeships will change – some employers will be required to contribute to the apprenticeship levy , while there will also be changes to the funding for apprenticeship for all employers .
Representatives from more than 40 local businesses – including Hitachi Rail Europe , Gestamp Tallent , 3M , GSK , Nifco and Ebac – attended a specialist employer event focusing on the levy at South West Durham Training ( SWDT ) on Aycliffe Business Park .
County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network director of operations Ben Gilhespy , who spoke at the seminar , warned attendees that the so-called skills gap is actually worse than how it ’ s currently perceived .
“ We keep hearing people talk about a skills gap for our 16-24-year-olds , but it ’ s not actually true – it stretches right throughout our businesses ,” said Gilhespy .
“ One of the key areas we ’ re looking at for particularly SMEs in the county is succession planning , which is really important .
“ People at the top can ’ t move on without having people beneath them with the necessary skills to move up .
“ We ’ re producing hair dresser after hair dresser because we think we need them , but we need the business community to interact with our training providers so our educational establishments understand what the needs are out there .
“ We need to use the levy to be able to turn around the staff we have and achieve a quality of person we can utilise in businesses .”
Former Ebac managing director Pamela Petty , who ’ s now chair of the Bishop Auckland College board and a director of Aycliffe Business Park Community , also spoke at the event .
Petty , who was an apprentice herself , said : “ I understand the strain businesses are under , but I ’ m a massive believer in the apprenticeship model – on the job experience with off the job learning
“ Absolutely everyone has the ability to learn and the ability to make a difference . They ’ re good for both the apprentices and employers – it ’ s a win-win situation for me .
“ One of the good things about the levy is that there ’ s actually more funding available in the new system for us older people , and it ’ s not just about 16-year-olds any more .