Choosing An Apprenticeship Levy Training Provider For Your Business

Apprenticeship levy training funds are available for any UK business to invest in apprenticeship or skills-based training for incoming or existing employees. If you are an apprenticeship levy payer, you can simply use your employer’s Digital Apprenticeship Scheme (DAS) account to allocate levy funds to your chosen training provider.

However, apprenticeship levy funds can only be spent with an approved provider. Let’s go through what you need to do to select the right training provider for your business.

1. Training Needs Analysis

First, determine the type of apprenticeship training and the level required for your business, and whether you need training for new recruits or to upskill current employees. This gives you a basis to use the government’s Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) to narrow your search options and find approved training providers in your location or serving your industry. Once you’ve established the type of training that is right for your needs and the outcomes you expect, start drilling down into individual providers and look into their track record. Your provider should have the correct accreditations and an established reputation and should provide high-quality training that fulfils your expectations.

2. Range and relevance

Next, consider how relevant the training is going to be and if it is something that is aligned to the needs of your industry. Many apprenticeship training providers deliver industry-approved or benchmarked courses that, while excellent in scope and content, don’t leave much room for flexibility to individual business needs. Other providers are able to offer more versatility, tailoring their services to the specific needs of different businesses and sectors.

3. Feedback and support

A good question to ask is how much support you would like from your training provider. Some training providers simply involve themselves with classroom-based or off-site tuition for your apprentices or trainees. This may align with what you need, but if you’re looking for a more comprehensive approach that combines both workplace and classroom-based elements, you may need to look for a provider that offers a higher level of training. If you’re unsure, feel free to ask other businesses who have already partnered with a provider or look for independent reviews.

For example, if you would like to work with us, our partner, Kendal College, would handle the onboarding process. They would guide stakeholders to help them draw their funds and then support apprentices throughout the apprenticeship process (for example, updating learning logs, individual tutors for Functional Skills etc...). We at Penguin Learning would then handle all the design and training aspects of the apprenticeships.

4. APAR & RoATP

There are two government registers of approved training providers. These are the RoATP, which we have already mentioned, and the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register, or APAR. Both are useful resources, and there is considerable overlap between them, but what are the differences, and do you need to use them both?

APAR

• Delivers a broader scope of trading providers than RoATP, encompassing a wider range of offerings. This might give employers more flexibility to meet their unique business needs.

• Includes both training providers and assessment organisations, helping you identify the best partners across the entire apprenticeship process

• Can be searched to provide detailed information about the apprenticeship levy providers, as well as the length, location, and enrolment information associated with each service.

RoATP

• Only lists trading providers approved to deliver government-funded apprenticeship training. This provides an added layer of trust and reliability for employers and simplifies the decision-making process for those seeking guaranteed quality training options.

Bespoke Apprenticeship Levy Training From Penguin Learning

At Penguin Learning, our vision is to develop your staff and help them create the best version of themselves in a personal and work capacities. By helping them perform to the best of their abilities, we empower your teams to drive greater performance and productivity for your business. Get in touch today to find out how you can use your apprenticeship levy funding to create a personalised development management programme that unlocks the full potential of your team.

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