TRAINING & EDUCATION A Path To Progression Jill Whittaker, Managing Director of training and apprenticeship provider Connect2Care,


explains why she thinks apprenticeships can help care providers standout in a competitive recruitment market.


An estimated 338,520 adult social care workers leſt their roles in 2015-16 alone, according to data gathered by charity Skills for Care. These figures are deeply concerning and it’s vital that the sector acts now to not only improve staff retention but also make careers in care more attractive to new starters.


Competition from other professions is clearly strong and doing well at enticing the British workforce. This means that we have to work even harder to engage people with the benefits, progression opportunities and personal rewards of a career in the care sector. This is particularly important if we’re going to encourage interest from Generation Z.


workforce which learns best through doing .”


According to research by Adecco, the majority of this generation say the potential for career growth is their top motivator – with 36% more focused on the opportunity for progression rather than salary when it comes to their first job. This is backed up by findings from Monster.com’s Multigenerational Survey, in which a whopping 74% ranked purpose ahead of a pay cheque.


Apprenticeships are a great way of establishing personal development opportunities for a workforce which learns best through doing and this is where the benefit of investing in training schemes can really come into its own.


With the new government - 24 -


personal development opportunities for a


“Apprenticeships are a great way of establishing


Apprenticeship Levy now in force, businesses have access to funds that have to be spent on training and development. The Levy applies to all UK businesses in the Public and Private Sectors and is payable for companies with an annual pay bill of £3million or more. Employers with an annual pay bill of less than £3million don’t have to pay the Levy charges but they will continue to have access to government funding to support apprenticeships.


At Connect2Care, we strongly believe that business owners should take full advantage of the funding made available from the Levy; aſter all, the payments are compulsory and can ultimately help to reduce employer’s recruitment bills as they invest in a longer-term workforce – so let’s make the most of them.


There’s no doubt that the next few years are going to be a testing time, but apprenticeships can really help the care industry to stand out from the crowd and establish itself as an attractive option to new and existing care professionals. By offering an apprenticeship, businesses can provide their employees with a clear path for learning, development and qualifications, and give them fixed goals to work towards, helping to keep them engaged. Aſter all, over 35% of workers think more training and development opportunities would entice people into the healthcare sector.


For employers looking to set up an apprenticeship for the first time, the process can seem a little bit daunting but finding the right training partner will ensure you have all the support you need.


Here are a few pointers for how to find a training provider that best suits your business:


• Visit the Skills for Care website and search its framework of learning providers.


• Look at a training provider’s completion rates for the sector and the subject that suits your business. Information can be found on the government website.


“By offering an apprenticeship,


businesses can provide their employees with a clear path for learning,


and give them fixed goals to work towards.”


• Just like schools and colleges, all training providers with government contracts are subject to regular Ofsted inspections. These will provide an independent opinion on the effectiveness of leadership and management within the training provider and the quality of their teaching, learning and assessment.


• Market research company Ipsos Mori regularly compiles learner and employer satisfaction scores on behalf of the government. These capture the experiences of the training and are indicators of what you can expect from the provider.


• It’s imperative to make sure your training provider is financially secure to minimise the risk of the company going out of business part-way through an apprenticeship.


• If your business has outlets across the country, finding a training provider with the ability to deliver apprenticeships in each of these locations will help to deliver a consistent quality of training across your business.


www.connect2care.net www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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