Bally Bhogal, Managing Director at LX Group Limited spoke about the following:

• The challenges of working with employers
• Employer commitment and apprenticeship obligations
• Right people - right programmes
• Positioning Off-the-Job Training 
• Demonstrating learning value
• Addressing Prevent and Safeguarding
• Q & A session

Q and A transcript

The following is a transcript of the questions asked during the webinar, along with the answers provided by product experts. For any further information, do contact your Implementation Consultant, Customer Success Manager or Aptem Support.

With off the job, especially within the early years sector that is governed by staff ratio, on its knees in terms of having qualified staff, off the job is something that we are finding very hard, what can you advise?

Part of the solution to this would be just having an open and honest conversation with your line manager and acknowledge the sector is suffering with issues around workforce etc. But explain why it's critical for this person to get the time needed to get through their apprenticeship. If you are not able to find resource to help support the learner, then you may have to look at an extension of the apprenticeship length.

Why do you think the apprenticeship levy scheme has had such a negative narrative? I was recently looking for a positive report on the levy to intice schools on social media and was unable to find any.

I think that the apprenticeship levy is complex to understand and is not easy to adminsiter, especially for novices. Employers want easy to use systems and processes that are time efficient, as well as quick results and turnarounds; by contrast there is so much to learn about the levy and to prepare for apprentices, which is what potentially switches clients off - hence the negativity.

Are there any different engagement messages for apprenticeships that are being used to upskill older employees?

I have not seen any direct messaging of apprenticeship to more mature learners, however the positioning should be in the best interests of the learner and the business. Upskilling those that want to progress in their careers; opening up job expansion opportunities; allowing returners back into the workplace or career switching completely would be the ideal narrative, however be careful around the amount of experience and skills that older learners bring with them. Spend more time on the intial assessment and skills scan stage!