The Council has a large levy pot to support its own and other businesses to grow new and existing staff. There are over 700 qualifications our levy will fully fund. This money is available for organisations to use to equip their workforce with knowledge, skills and behaviours required in tomorrow’s workforce. These formal qualifications range from level 2 (GCSE equivalent) to level 7 (masters level). The range of qualifications and career routes is very varied but choices include:

• Senior Leadership/Team leaders
• Business support/Customer Service
• Catering and Hospitality
• Care Services
• Hair and Beauty
• Sales/Marketing/Procurement
• Legal/Finance/Accounting
• Engineering and manufacturing
• Agriculture, environmental and animal care
• Digital Marketing
• Construction and the built environment
• Data Analysts/Technician Education and Childcare
• Sales, Marketing and Procurement
• Transport and Logistics
• Protective Services

View the full list of every qualification the levy will fund

Who can apply for this funding?

Any Bexley business that wants to upskill existing employees or take on new employees. To benefit from this funding employees must be employed for 30 hours per week and have a contract of employment for the duration of the qualification.

What candidates are eligible:

• This funding is available to anyone over the age of 16. There is no upper limit
• The role they are employed to do must be relevant to the qualification they are undertaking
• Employees who have A levels or a degree are still eligible for qualification for the funding providing the qualification is different from previously achieved
• The learning is 80% on the job and 20% off the job for formal studying. Employers must support the learner with the 20% off-the-job learning
• Learners must be directly employed by your business and paid through your PAYE scheme
• Funding can only be used for new qualification starts. Funds cannot be used for those qualifications already started
• Funding can only be used for those qualifications on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education formal list and delivered by a training provider on the Government’s register
• Funds will be paid monthly for the duration of the agreed qualification

Need to know facts

• This funding will ONLY support the qualification costs. Learners’ salaries and any employment costs must be met by the employer.
• Employers wanting to benefit from this funding will need to set up an online digital account so the funds can be transferred each month. For this you need your HRMC Gateway number. 
• Training providers can only enrol learners on a course if the learning is relevant and new learning. Repeated qualifications cannot be funded via this levy.
• There are no hidden costs. Some qualifications have formal exams (mainly those in accounting). These have to be paid for and will be discussed with you before enrolment.
• The levy will not pay for membership fees for professional bodies (such as ICE, RICS etc). These costs must be met by the individual or employer.
• Learners will be funded via the Government’s apprenticeship levy. Regardless of their age, what they are studying or previous qualifications/careers they are entitled to use this funding to grow and learn.

The benefits of using this funding

We live and work in a world that is forever changing. Whether you tap into this funding to upskill your existing workforce or grow new talent there are many benefits of supporting an apprentice:

1. Government Research from 2017 shows that 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation. In addition, over 75% highlighted ‘improved productivity, the better quality of product or service, and higher staff morale. 67% of employers say that employing apprentices improved their image in the sector.
2. Investing in someone’s skills and development makes them feel valued, and breeds motivation and loyalty, which reduces turnover, absenteeism and recruitment costs.
3. Apprenticeships are a great succession planning tool – many businesses upskill staff to avoid skills gaps when people retire.
4. 80% of learning is on the job so businesses have the benefit of their staff working and learning at the same time.
5. Employers are eligible for an additional £1,000 grant if they employ an apprentice aged 16-18 or a 19-24-year-old who has been in care, or has special educational needs.
6. Apprenticeship programmes allow employers to ‘grow your own’ providing staff with the exact skills, competencies and ethos your organisation needs.

Next Steps…

If your business is interested in a levy transfer or would like to learn more please email Cheryl.jones@bexley.gov.uk or call 0203 045 4095. Alternatively, you can visit the national apprenticeship website, call 08000 150 400 or email nationalhelpdesk@apprenticeships.gov.uk