Strategically using the Apprenticeship Levy
For organisations looking to make strategic use of the Apprenticeship Levy, Jason Bell offers some valuable advice. He emphasises the importance of understanding the numbers and analysing the missed opportunities. By telling a compelling story about the contributions that could have been utilised, it becomes easier to garner support for apprenticeship programmes.
Finding the right training provider that aligns with your organisation's values and goals is crucial. A strong partnership with a training provider can make a significant difference in the success of the programme: "There are so many organisations out there who don’t understand the evolution of apprenticeships and how they can add value to their existing population of people. They write the levy off as a tax, and I've heard that from companies I've worked with. It's such a wasted opportunity. Statistically, with the workforce of today, people expect to be invested in and developed. Learning and development is a core part of their rolee.
Yes, rewards and all the great benefits are important. Still, if you don't have demonstrable evidence of a well-rounded, well-balanced learning and development strategy that includes qualifications utilising the levy, people will vote with their feet."
"If you have stakeholders who don't understand the impacts of the apprenticeship levy and how it can be utilised, tell a story with it. Show what has been contributed, what we've lost, and the missed opportunities we could have utilised. Show where we've utilised economic, commercial, and budget resources when we could have used the apprenticeship levy for upskilling and investing in our people. Start by understanding your numbers, tell a compelling story, and find an amazing training provider to help you along the journey.
Meet with your people to understand their learning needs and development aspirations. I can almost guarantee there will be a training provider suitable to your needs, offering a relevant qualification.
It's there to be used, and if you don't use it, it will be wasted. So, it's in an organisation's best interest to commit a small amount of energy and resources to get this up and running with amazing impact and benefits as the trade-off."
"It's there to be used, and if you don't use it, it will be wasted. So, it's in an organisation's best interest to commit a small amount of energy and resources to get this up and running with amazing impact and benefits as the trade-off."
Jason Bell, Head of L&D, Hiscox
Hiscox's strategic approach to the Apprenticeship Levy is a model for how companies can harness this valuable resource to enhance their workforce's skills and ultimately drive success in today's competitive business landscape.
By prioritising learning and development, organisations can not only attract top talent but also retain and empower their existing workforce.