BALI is dedicated to supporting the panorama business in addressing the talents gaps and shortages, to this finish we’ve got produced a short report back to assist employers who’re contemplating taking over an apprentice to indicate the choices which are obtainable.
What’s an apprenticeship?
It’s a piece – primarily based coaching programme that mixes on the job coaching with a nationally recognised qualification. An apprentice must be aged 16 or over and generally is a new or present worker, who resides within the UK and never in full time training.
Using an apprentice can deliver many advantages to your enterprise:
- It may be a value efficient manner of recruiting and coaching a brand new member of employees
- They are often educated particularly to your enterprise to fill abilities gaps
- You achieve an worker that’s loyal and dedicated to your enterprise
The apprenticeship lasts between a minimal of 12 months to 36 months relying on the extent.
Funding
The Authorities will make it easier to finance an apprenticeship, that is depending on whether or not you must pay the Apprenticeship levy, which applies to all companies which have a wage invoice over £3m a yr (see under).
In case you are under the levy threshold, then you definitely pay 5% in the direction of the price of coaching and assessing your apprentice, this shall be carried out by way of agreeing a fee schedule with the coaching organisation and paying them instantly.
In case your organisation has under 50 workers, the Authorities will 100% fund 16-18 yr outdated apprentices. 19-24 yr outdated with an Schooling Well being Care plan (EHC) plan means you’ll have to pay 10%.
There may be an incentive fee of a £1,000 for every 16-18 yr outdated apprentice or 19-24 yr outdated with an EHC plan.
The apprenticeship levy
All UK companies with a pay invoice over £3m with must pay 0.5% of that invoice. The annual wage invoice is calculated as all funds to workers which are topic to employer Class 1 Secondary Nationwide Insurance coverage Contributions (NIC’s), this consists of wages, bonuses and commissions.
Employers will obtain a £15,000 mounted annual allowance (not a money fee) to offset towards the levy fee.
Employer duties
As an employer you can be liable for paying the worker’s wage relying on age at the very least at minimal wage degree.
https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates
- Present vacation pay, a minimal of 20 days + financial institution holidays
- Permit your apprentice to spend at the very least 20% of their working hours on off-the-job coaching
{Qualifications}
By way of your apprentices coaching, you may select their degree and topic.
There are two various kinds of apprenticeship coaching:
Apprenticeship requirements – every commonplace covers a selected occupation and units out the core abilities, information and behaviours an apprentice will want; they’re developed by employer teams generally known as ‘trailblazers’.
There may be additionally the apprenticeship frameworks – a collection of work-related vocational {and professional} {qualifications}, with office and classroom primarily based coaching. These will finally get replaced with the above apprenticeship requirements.
There are two horticulture work – primarily based {qualifications} at Ranges 2 and three.
Intermediate Degree 2 usually lasts 20 months with a funding band of as much as £2000 per apprentice.
Superior Degree 3 usually lasts 24 months with a funding band of as much as £2500 per apprentice.
The Degree 2 Apprenticeship commonplace for Horticulture/Panorama Operative qualification has a typical size of 20 – 24 months and a funding band of as much as £5000 per apprentice.
As soon as competing the Degree 2 Apprenticeship (or with the related expertise/{qualifications}, candidates can progress onto the Degree 3 Panorama/Horticulture Supervisor apprenticeship which has a typical size of 15 – 36 months and a funding band of as much as £8000.
Upon getting chosen the qualification you need your apprentice to undertake, select a coaching supplier in your locality, additionally, you will want to pick an Finish Level Evaluation (EPA) supplier.
There are a selection of BALI members which are registered coaching suppliers and run the suitable {qualifications}, please go to bali.org.uk to search out one native to you.
Issues earlier than taking over an apprentice:
- Are you assured you’ll have sufficient work to maintain the apprentice?
- Does the corporate cowl sufficient facets of the apprenticeship standards to finish the factors?
- Is there somebody within the firm to mentor and assist the apprentice?
Recruiting an apprentice
- Promote in your native space
- Promote on BALI jobs go to horticulturecareers.co.uk
- Promote on ‘discover an apprentice’ https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
- Interview, however don’t be afraid to re promote for those who don’t discover anybody appropriate.
