Will The Apprenticeship Levy Work?

The Apprenticeship Levy – Will It Work?

Apprenticeship Levy Background

In the last parliament, 2.3 million apprentices were trained in the UK. Therefore, the Apprenticeship Levy is an unsurprising initiative if the Conservative Party reaches its target of training three million apprentices by the year 2020. The government’s targets and figures are relatively easy to memorize:

  • Number of apprenticeship places the government are aiming for: 3 Million
  • Businesses’ annual payroll threshold: £3 Million
  • The predicted sum of money to be raised from the Apprenticeship Levy: £3 Billion

Number three has become a recurring theme in Chancellor George Osborne’s aspirations to improve apprenticeship opportunities in the UK as he continues to tackle youth unemployment.  

Youth unemployment has dropped significantly over the past few years. Earlier this year it was reported that unemployment in the UK is still at a ten-year low, with the figures of those registered as unemployed plummeting as we entered into 2016.  Introducing a living wage and the forthcoming Apprenticeship Levy are two schemes that have been put in place to encourage a working mentality.

These legislations appear to be part of an effort to develop a pro-active mentality and a can-do positivity throughout the British workforce. Introducing the Apprenticeship Levy should lead to a significant increase in the number of apprenticeships available in the UK. It should also help drive engagement from small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) who make up the backbone of companies in the UK.

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New Structures

The new structure surrounding the Apprenticeship Levy and how enterprises gain access to apprenticeship vouchers is to simplify the system and offer funds in the areas where it is most needed. As a result, opportunities will continue to grow and become widely available to 16-24-year-olds who are keen to undertake apprenticeships in a wide array of contrasting job roles in both the public and private sectors.

However, the new Levy has not been met with positivity from all parties concerned. The biggest fear is related to how little information is currently out there regarding the exact details of the methods of taxation and the demands put on bigger businesses.

Whilst it’s clear that the Levy will work in principal, raising some much-needed funds, the knock-on effect for larger businesses is yet unknown and many are left pondering the question, “is a levy essential to develop a healthy apprenticeship system in the UK?”

Germany is a shining example of a country enjoying the benefits of a well-structured and healthy apprenticeship system. They are advocators of ‘dual training’, with employees splitting their time between the workplace and the classroom, developing a solid skill-set alongside educational training.

There is no Apprenticeship levy in place; larger firms invest a vast amount of time, energy, and money into developing their apprentices.

They see them as an investment and a sector of their workforce who provide a valuable contribution to their company – on the whole, it is a somewhat different approach to apprenticeships in the UK, but perhaps a direction in which we may move in further down the line.