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- Weekly Newsletter 10.10.2024
Weekly Newsletter 10.10.2024
PLUS: Why policy reform is key to future growth
Sophie Bruxner-Randall
October 10, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
CASE STUDY
Organisations today are increasingly recognising the value of skilled data technicians. Accelerate People's recent success story with Tina Parkhouse, a graduate of their Data Technician apprenticeship programme, demonstrates how these initiatives can transform careers and deliver tangible benefits to businesses.
Key takeaways from Tina's success story:
⚡️ Apprenticeships offer a practical way to transition into new career paths
🚀 On-the-job learning accelerated skill acquisition, allowing immediate application of new knowledge to real-world challenges.
💡 The apprenticeship model proved effective in cultivating in-house talent aligned with specific business needs.
The apprenticeship not only transformed my career but also enabled me to contribute significantly to data-driven decision-making within my organisation.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
David Smith, CEO of Lifetime Training, has successfully led the company through a challenging period, improving its Ofsted rating and clearing £100 million of debt. His leadership has stabilised the company financially, allowing it to explore new training markets, including digital skills and wellness, in response to Labour's proposed levy reforms.
Smith emphasises the need for government policy updates, particularly regarding outdated funding rules and eligibility criteria for apprenticeships. He advocates for a clearer, more flexible approach to training, urging employers not to halt staff development. Lifetime Training aims to maintain its apprenticeship numbers while expanding into commercial training and other growth areas, ensuring a strong future direction.
EDUCATION POLICY
Ofsted is set to introduce a new inclusion criterion in inspection report cards for schools, colleges, and training providers from September next year. This initiative aims to assess whether education providers are inclusive, focusing on high-quality support for disadvantaged and vulnerable children.
The National Children's Bureau (NCB) has been awarded a £90,000 contract to help conceptualise vulnerability and inclusion. NCB will conduct a rapid evidence review and engage with stakeholders to understand current definitions and practices in education and social care sectors. Findings will be published in 2025, informing Ofsted's future inspection work.
Ofsted plans to consult on the new report card, including the inclusion criterion, in January. This development reflects a commitment to improving educational inclusivity and understanding vulnerability.
EDUCATION SECTOR
Robert Halfon, former skills minister, has joined BPP, a leading education and training provider, as a senior adviser focusing on skills and social mobility. This role aligns with his passion for advancing skills, following his tenure as MP for Harlow and minister for skills, apprenticeships, and higher education.
Halfon has taken on multiple advisory roles post-ministry, including honorary chair of the Green Construction Advisory Panel and senior adviser for consultancy firms Candesic and GK Strategy. He also launched Ladder of Opportunity Consulting. ACOBA has restricted him from lobbying on behalf of his new employers for two years. BPP, a major player in professional education, offers a range of apprenticeships, with significant income from the apprenticeship levy.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The new L6 Machine Learning Engineer Apprenticeship Standard for England is set to be published soon, following approval by the Secretary of State for Education. This initiative aims to address the skills gap in ML Engineering, with training starting in early 2025. The programme is designed for both new and existing talent, offering a fast-track route for computer science graduates and upskilling opportunities for current employees.
The apprenticeship, funded through the Apprenticeship Levy, will last up to 24 months and includes a comprehensive End-Point Assessment. It is supported by a wide range of organisations and training providers, ensuring a robust framework for developing ML engineering skills. This standard seeks to connect data and AI research with practical applications, enhancing the UK's performance in the information age.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
The UK manufacturing sector faces a significant skills gap, with 36% of vacancies difficult to fill due to a lack of qualified candidates. Micro-apprenticeships, short programmes focused on specific skills like fitting or welding, could help address this issue by providing targeted training and reducing dropout rates from traditional apprenticeships.
Micro-apprenticeships offer benefits such as quicker access to skilled workers for employers and a clear progression path for participants. They can create a wider talent pipeline, aiding SMEs in staff recruitment and skills investment. Formalising these programmes could significantly contribute to solving the skills challenge, as seen with major UK employers already applying these principles.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
The UK Government, through Skills England, has identified significant skills gaps, particularly in critical minerals and clean energy sectors. This aligns with the mission to establish Britain as a clean energy superpower. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has initiated the Office for Clean Energy Jobs to address these needs.
A new growth and skills levy will replace the existing apprenticeship levy, introducing foundation apprenticeships. This change aims to provide young people with career pathways in critical sectors, offering flexibility with shorter apprenticeships. Employers are encouraged to invest more in training younger workers, addressing the decline in employer investment over the past decade.
Skills England will play a pivotal role in determining training eligibility for the expanded levy, with a focus on high-demand sectors like health, social care, education, manufacturing, and science and technology.
BUSINESS NEWS
Apprenticeships in the East of England have decreased by 15%, aligning with a national trend of a 17% drop. Despite high demand, the supply of apprenticeships remains low, with three times more applicants than available positions. The Eastern Powerhouse highlights the need for reform, particularly in the Apprenticeship Levy, to address these challenges and improve economic growth and productivity.
The most popular apprenticeship areas are business, administration, and health care, with engineering and manufacturing following. The Eastern Powerhouse is hosting an event on 7th November to discuss strategies for enhancing skills in the region. Local training providers like Anglia Ruskin University and West Suffolk College play a crucial role in delivering these opportunities.
HRD: Digital Apprenticeships is a Contentive publication in the Education division