Business Update - Issue 37 (October 2018)
Updated 1 November 2021
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding-agency-business-update/business-update-issue-37-october-2018
1. Apprenticeship service update
Inform
Employers invited to feedback
We are introducing a new feature on the apprenticeship service - “what employers are saying”. We will be inviting employers who have registered apprentices on the apprenticeship service to feedback on specific aspects of their apprenticeship programmes.
The first beta version of the feature will ask for feedback on their training providers. We will publish the feedback on find apprenticeship training to help employers choose their training provider. All feedback will be anonymous.
For more information read the ESFA Digital Blog.
2. Community activation content – please share
Action
Please take a few minutes to share some of the content below that is most relevant to your audiences and help support the apprenticeships movement. Please join us and share!
Hire an Apprentice
Please view and share employer short films available on our YouTube site, on the benefits of apprenticeships; the return on investment of apprentices and the support available in the recruitment of apprentices. A variety of employers give their perspective in the films including Nottingham City Homes, EEM, JCB and Eyesore Merch.
Sector engagement
We are still keen to engage employers in shouting about how great apprenticeships are. Please do share this graphic across social media channels, using the wording below:
‘We are proud of our #apprentices who are vital for the future growth of our business. Search for information on how you can hire an apprentice at https://bit.ly/2Cfne1r #ApprenticeshipsWork’
3. Myth busting guides to apprenticeships
Inform
We have recently updated our employer guide to apprenticeships to include the top 7 myths about apprenticeship service funding. For more information on apprenticeships, the apprenticeship service and funding, please download this guide from GOV.UK.
4. National Apprenticeship Awards regional winners announced
Inform
The National Apprenticeship Awards 2018 regional winners have been announced, following nine regional ceremonies taking place across the country in recent weeks. Regional winners represent the wide range of industries and occupations apprenticeships are available in, and winners will now progress to the national stage of the competition, to be held at Old Billingsgate in London, on Wednesday 28th November 2018.
Nine regional ‘rising stars’ were recognised during the regional ceremonies. Winners are apprentices who have made impressive progress in their career to date and who show the potential, through their apprenticeship, to take their career path to the very top of their profession. Nominated by their employers, the 9 regional winners will receive votes from the public. The overall national winner will be announced during the national ceremony. Voting opens at 10am on 3 October and closes at 5pm on 17 October. To vote for your winner, please visit: https://appawards.co.uk/vote.
5. National Apprenticeship Week 2019 date announced
Inform
A reminder that the date of the 12th annual National Apprenticeship Week - to take place in 2019 – was announced earlier this month. NAW2019 will run from 4 to 8 March 2019, with the annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships bringing together the whole apprenticeship community to celebrate the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
More information on National Apprenticeship Week 2019 will be announced on GOV.UK and on social media channels. Follow @Apprenticeships on Twitter and via the National Apprenticeship Service on LinkedIn to keep up to date.
6. Using the apprenticeship brand
Remind
Employers looking to use the apprenticeships product logo on marketing materials can access our brand guidelines and logo assets on GOV.UK. Any employers who require the apprenticeships logo in a different format, please email Marcomms.MAILBOX@education.gov.uk.
Employers requiring the Education and Skills Funding Agency logo, please email: Branding.ESFA@education.gov.uk with intended use and UKPRN number.
7. Apprenticeships funding band review
Information
Over the summer, the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) has been reviewing the funding bands of 31 standards. The Department for Education (DfE) requested that existing standards be reviewed to assess where they should sit in the new 30 band funding structure, which was introduced for new starts from August 2018.
Ministers have now approved the first 12 recommendations from the review of standard prices, two standards will see their funding bands increased, 3 have stayed the same and 7 will see their funding bands reduced.
Increased funding bands will take effect for all new starts from 6 October 2018. Reduced funding bands will take effect after 3 months, from 1 January 2019. This is to give the market notice and time to respond to any changes in funding levels.
The IfA will make recommendations to DfE on the remaining standards in October. Further information will be available on the IfA’s website.