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01702 782001

01702 782001

Upskilling Staff

Upskilling existing staff using Apprenticeship Levy funding

Employers can now utilise government funds for the significant upskilling of existing staff.

Many qualifications are now available as an apprenticeship standard, rather than simply as a standalone course. If your company pays the Apprenticeship Levy (ie has a paybill in excess of £3m annually) you’ll already have access to a digital account with funds that the government have paid into it. However, if not used after two years the funding will be reclaimed by the government.

These funds can only be accessed for apprenticeship training – an increasingly attractive method for organisations to upskill and qualify their existing staff, helping them to progress.

Learners will be required to build a portfolio of evidence to meet the standard’s criteria, and complete the end-point assessment.

Need more information about how Apprenticeship Levy funding actually works? Click here to find out.

What occupational areas do we offer training in? Click here to find out

Criteria for undertaking an upskilling Apprenticeship

The main criteria are that an apprentice must:

  • be employed in an existing job requiring substantive new skills
  • be working towards achieving an approved apprenticeship standard or framework – apprenticeship levy funds cannot be used to pay for course fees for a standalone qualification
  • be in training that lasts for at least 12 months, depending on the standard
  • spend at least 20% of their working hours on off-the-job training over the planned duration of the apprenticeship

Off-the-job training must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship framework or standard, i.e. teaching new knowledge, skills and behaviours required to reach competence in the particular occupation. It can include training that is delivered at the apprentice’s normal place of work, such as:

    1. the teaching of theory (for example, lectures, role playing, simulation exercises, online learning)
    2. practical training, shadowing, mentoring, industry visits

Need more information? Contact us on info@rmtraining.co.uk, call us on 01322 217072 or complete the following contact form: