For the recruitment and development of new apprentices, local businesses will now be able to claim additional funding following an announcement from the government earlier this year.
From the 1st of April 2021 to the 30th of September 2021, employers will receive £3,000 for hiring apprentices of all ages and an additional £1,000 for employing those aged 16-18, or 19-24 with an Education Health & Care Plan. Hiring an apprentice is a cost-effective way of attracting new people into an organisation and apprenticeships can also be used to aid progression and upskill current employees.
In addition to this, Warwickshire Skills Hub has introduced The Warwickshire Apprenticeship Progression Programme which offers a £1000 incentive paid to the employer to help business needs. This programme is designed to support small to medium size businesses that are willing to invest in their staff’s progression and build upon a previous qualification.
The College offers a variety of apprenticeships in a wide range of subjects
Stratford-upon-Avon College’s apprenticeship recruitment team has a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. The team work closely with employers to ensure that they recruit candidates of the very highest calibre. The College already works with over 300 employers and 700 apprentices, offering a wide array of programmes to suit industry needs.
Students can carry out their off-the-job training at Stratford-upon-Avon College or partner Solihull College & University Centre’s Blossomfield and Woodlands campuses, utilising industry-standard facilities, including the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Institute of Technology’s precision machining facility, as well as ‘Aspire’ hair salons, a state-of-the-art animal welfare centre, electric hybrid vehicle workshops, Stratford’s theatres for perfecting candidate’s technical theatre skills, Digital Garage, and an apprenticeship dedicated industry standard kitchen to allow Chefs to progress to the next level.
The College will soon be launching a range of new apprenticeship programmes to add to its already extensive offer, including Level 4 Hospitality Manager, Level 3 Chef De Partie, Level 2 Commis Chef, Level 2 Property Maintenance Operative; Level 2 Community Activator Coach; Level 3 Laboratory Technician; Level 3 Junior Content Producer; Level 7 Senior People Professional and Level 7 Senior Leader. Further to this, a new ‘fast track’ option is available for those seeking to progress onto the Level 6 Chartered Management Degree apprenticeship, having previously completed a management qualification at Level 5.
Employer Services Manager at the College, Oliver Matthews, comments: “As we approach the end of the academic year and enter the traditional period for apprenticeship recruitment, we welcome the Chancellor’s decision to continue to offer employers increased financial incentives.
Not only is this a great initiative for individuals of all ages to progress and meet the region’s skills demand, but the limited extension will provide further support for organisations on the road to economic recovery. We are already seeing the benefit of the additional assistance and hope that the business community continue to maximise this opportunity.”
If you are an Employer looking to recruit an apprentice, please contact one of our Employer Services Team via apprenticeships@solihull.ac.uk or visit or visit our ‘Employ an Apprentice’ page.
