BUSINESS HELPDESK HELP DESK
TIME TO TAKE THE PLEDGE
With the latest government support for apprenticeships aimed at smaller companies, the BMF is urging the building materials sector to take full advantage. Marianna Peet, BMF Apprenticeship Manager has the details.
FROM 1 APRIL, the Government will fully fund the cost of apprenticeship training in small businesses for anyone up to the age of 21. In addition, the amount of unused Apprenticeship Levy funding that larger Levy paying companies can transfer to other businesses has doubled. Levy payers are now able to transfer up to 50% of their funds to support other businesses who wish to take on apprentices. These changes only affect apprenticeships in England. These changes could not have come at a better time for the building materials industry. The Apprenticeship Levy is underused across the construction sector, so there is ample financial support available to enable more employers to get the skilled workers they need, as well as unlocking more opportunities for young people.
Last year, the BMF
Apprenticeship Pledge targeted 15,000 new apprenticeships in our sector by 2030. Since then, we have seen our members pledge to create almost 11,500 new places over the next six years. Achieving our target, however, will require even more members to sign the pledge and commit to creating a further 3,500 new apprenticeships.
While this may seem ambitious, it is said that a good employer will have 5% of its workforce taking an apprenticeship. If that sounds a lot, your image of a typical apprentice may no longer be accurate.
Before 2017 Apprenticeships were mainly seen as vocational training for school-leavers entering manual trades. While that’s still a common a view, it’s far from the whole story.
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Today’s apprenticeships reflect the rapid pace of change within the workplace, with wide-ranging programmes designed both to equip new entrants with the base level skills required at the start of their career, and to develop people throughout their working lives.
For example, earlier in my career I achieved Level 3 Team Leader, and I am currently completing a Level 6 Career Development Professional apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are for life, and I’m on a mission to ensure everyone appreciates their versatility. Companies signing the BMF Apprenticeship Pledge may do so to upskill existing colleagues, support others making a career change, to train new recruits, or a mix of all three.
The BMF currently offers 30 different apprenticeship programmes. Some of these programmes are run by our partner provider, LEAP Apprenticeships and Early Careers, and are specifically tailored to the needs of the building materials sector. To help members choose the right programmes for their business, I am creating a new prospectus dedicated to BMF Apprenticeships. Members can also discuss Apprenticeships with their Regional Manager. The Apprenticeship Pledge is open to all BMF members and I encourage them all to get involved. For those who have rarely, or never, used apprenticeships before, the form- filling element may seem a little daunting. But we can provide
support throughout the process, handling all the paperwork and even helping to find the right apprentices if required. Attracting and retaining colleagues, and developing a more diverse workforce, has never been more important. Our BMF Ambassador Group has partnered with Go Construct STEM, to enable access to a platform where we can book events directly with schools across the UK. If you would like to promote our fantastic industry to the next generation, why not join us as an Ambassador?
• To find out more details about Apprenticeships, the BMF Apprenticeship Pledge or to become a BMF Ambassador, please email
Marianna.Peet@
bmf.org.uk
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2024
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