Wandsworth Business Guide &Directory 2017/18

28 / 52

26
SUPPORTING OUR
ENTREPRENEURS OF THE FUTURE
Wandsworth Lifelong Learning offers
various routes to training and
employment for young people in the
borough. These include apprenticeships,
employability projects, work experience
and internships. The Lifelong Learning
team works closely with employers and
employees to establish their needs and
designs programmes that will have the
desired impact.
APPRENTICESHIPS
The Apprenticeship Levy, which launched
in April 2017, is a great opportunity for
employers to access funding that can
be used to train new and existing staff
members, up-skilling them with abilities
and knowledge that can have a positive
impact on efficiency and morale.
The Apprenticeship Levy, which affects
all employers operating in the UK that
have a wage bill of over £3m, supports
succession planning in the workplace.
How can employers benefit from the levy?
Funding that employers receive can be
used to support all age groups within
an organisation to develop skills and
experience. Employers who recruit a
16-18 year old apprentice will receive an
additional £1,000 of funding.
How much will I have to pay?
If you have a wage bill of over £3m
the cost will be 0.5% of the wage bill.
This will be collected through PAYE.
Do employers receive any allowances?
Yes, employers that have a wage bill over
£3m will receive an allowance of £15,000
per year for training and development.
The government will apply a monthly
10% top-up to funds to levy-paying
employers that have an Apprenticeship
Service Account.
What is available for employers
with a wage bill under £3 million?
Those employers that have a wage bill
less than £3m will not need to pay the
levy until at least 2018. From May 2017,
if you would like your team members
to undertake an apprenticeship, you will
need to contribute 10% to the overall
cost of the programme with the
government paying the remaining 90%.
How will my business benefit
from having an apprentice?
Employers are able to develop future
managers from within their organisation
by having better trained, motivated and
more disciplined staff who stay with
you for longer. Apprenticeships cover
a range of technical/vocational skills,
helping your business to remain ahead
of competition.
X For further information on the levy
or sourcing apprentices contact:
Anjela Entwisle:
020 8871 5473/ 07554 330490