ADULT APPRENTICESHIPS
Adult apprenticeships :
A new beginning
Laura Burley , Apprenticeship Ambassador , The Open University
Changing career as an adult can be a daunting prospect . It could mean starting again at the bottom of the ladder , on entry level wages or working alongside much younger colleagues . In fact without proper help and guidance beginning again in a new career or reskilling as an adult is something many people don ’ t contemplate . But there is a solution that more and more people are turning to ; adult apprenticeships .
Adult apprenticeships can be a great way of retraining , enabling you to work and be paid while gaining your qualifications . There ’ s no age limit , and the over 25 ’ s make up nearly 50 % of all apprenticeships in England .
Adults in England can do any level of apprenticeship ranging from the ‘ traditional ’ apprenticeships in construction and plumbing through to digital , management , space engineer or even nurse , police or social worker . They range from Level 2 ( GCSE equivalent ) to Level 6 ( Degree Apprenticeship ) and even Level 7 ( postgraduate ). An apprenticeship on average lasts between one to four years , depending on the level .
Adult apprenticeships are one of the many options out there now for those who need to retrain or change careers . Apprenticeships are growing in popularity because you can learn and earn on the job . They are especially popular amongst employers as they enable them to recruit a wider pool of diverse people from a wider range of backgrounds , with different skill sets and approaches to the world .
What is an apprenticeship ?
Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study . Apprentices spend approximately 80 % of their time on their day-to-day role and 20 % completing their qualification . It develops employees ’ professional knowledge and skills whilst they ’ re working in an organisation , enhancing performance and expertise .
How are apprenticeships funded ?
Employers recruit the apprentice as a key member of their staff . Employers are responsible for paying their apprentices ’ salaries but training costs are paid for via the employer through the Apprenticeship Levy . The Levy requires organisations with a wage bill of more than £ 3m to pay 0.5 % of that to support apprenticeships . However , any size employer can access funding for an apprentice , whether they pay the Levy or not .
A recent report commissioned by The Open University and The 5 % Club ( an employer group committed to having a minimum 5 % of the workforce learning and earning ) found that nearly three quarters ( 70 %) of employers held the belief that apprenticeships and work-based learning would be vital to their organisations ’ recovery from Covid disruption , compared to just half ( 50 %) of business who were asked in August 2020 .
The report found that the number of organisations planning to increase their apprenticeship intake over the next twelve months has seen an 11 % increase , with nearly three quarters ( 72 %) now planning on hiring more apprentices over the next year , up from under two thirds ( 61 %) polled last summer . With these figures being reflected in the view of both SMEs and large businesses .
In essence , employers are increasingly seeing the benefits of apprenticeships and this can only grow as we move into the new post-Covid world .
Across the country we can see the transformational impact of apprenticeships – to the employer , to the individual and the economy . The Open University , as the largest degree