Apprenticeship levy payers are able to transfer up to 25% of their levy funds to a non-levy payer. This will enable the levy payer to keep money for apprenticeships within their supply chain, sector or communities rather than run the risk of their unused funds expiring and being returned to central government if not utilised within 24 months.
For Hertfordshire this means re-focusing levy funds to those sectors within the county where we know apprenticeship programmes provide a very effective skills development and recruitment tool.
Most organisations that transfer funds do so to help their supply chain or SMEs access training they couldn’t otherwise afford. Essentially, a transfer means the receiving organisation does not have to contribute to the cost of apprenticeship training. It also gives the receiver the choice of all the training providers listed on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers.
Opportunities for large employers may include:
- supporting SMEs within outsourced services/supply chain such as facilities, horticulture, onsite retail, catering, payroll, pensions
- targeting a specific sector where there is a known skills gap such as engineering, digital industries
- building capacity in voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to identify roles that can be trained through an apprenticeship
- Schools engagement – fund apprenticeships in local schools such as teaching assistants, facilities/catering, office and business roles
- Widening participation agenda through working with Job Centre Plus to engage those not currently in work and improving the numbers of those moving into an apprenticeship or paid role
For further information please contact HOP hopinto@hertfordshirelep.co.uk
