With a lot of different information flying about on the Levy, many businesses we speak to are wondering where they stand. Here we explain the key aspects of the Levy.
- All employers operating in the UK, with a pay bill over £3 million each year, will be expected to invest in apprenticeships
- Your annual pay bill is all payments to employees that are subject to employer Class 1 secondary National Insurance contributions (NICs) such as wages, bonuses and commissions
- Employers who aren’t connected to another company or charity will have an Apprenticeship Levy allowance of £15,000 each year
- The Apprenticeship Levy is charged at 0.5% of your annual pay bill. You can use HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools to help you work out how much you need to pay
Once you have declared the levy to HMRC, you will be able to access funding for apprenticeships through your new Digital Apprenticeship Service account.
- Once you have found the apprenticeship standard you want, you will be able to search for apprenticeship providers. This is done by location, so if you search Nottingham or the surrounding area, then Nottingham College will appear on your search results.
- You will then be able to select Nottingham College to find out what our apprenticeship provision offers, including important information on subjects such as pay and suggested job roles.
- You can then register directly with the apprenticeship service or contact us on 0115 945 7260 or by emailing business@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk
- From this point onwards we will take care of the rest, supporting you every step of the way, shortlisting apprentices for interview and once you are happy with your choice, organising a start date for the apprentice(s) to begin.
- We will then provide ongoing support to ensure the apprentice is successful appointment and organise regular visits from our training assessors to help support your business and the apprentices’ development needs.
This will see groups of employers working together alongside their trade bodies to develop apprenticeship ‘Trailblazers’ or ‘Standards’. Key aspects of this include:
- The new ‘standards’ are designed by employers for employers, to ensure that apprenticeships support businesses to grow and prosper
- Can be designed by employers specifically for a role and sector
- They will be based on a combination of skills, behaviors and industry knowledge
- They will provide clarity on what an apprentice will need to be able to do on completion
- Will involve rigorous and independent assessment throughout
The Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) is the new online portal brought in by the Government to empower employers to take control of their own apprenticeship training.
Some of the key aspects of the new portal include:
- A new simple to use search facility for employers to find suitable apprenticeship ‘standards’ and to identify approved providers who can deliver that training.
- Manage your account - Levy paying employers will be able to access their Levy account to manage and allocate funds accordingly.
If you do not pay the levy, you won’t need to use the apprenticeship service to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment at this point in time. We support business of all sizes, ensuring you have a tailored solution for your business needs. So if you are interested in recruiting an apprentice or training for your staff please contact us today to see how we can help support your recruitment needs and what funding is available for you to apply for.
Want to find out more?
If you want to learn more about the Apprenticeship Levy and what options you have please get in touch with us for a free consultation today — call 0115 945 7260 or email: business@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk.
