Employers’ Guide to

Apprenticeships

An Apprenticeship is created through partnership. Incorporating on-the-job training with an employer and technical training with a training provider. These two elements come together to provide an Apprenticeship for someone who will gain real practical experience and technical knowledge required for their job and future career.

WE OFFER APPRENTICESHIPS IN THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS:

Agriculture

York, Penrith, Thirsk, Hexham and Kendal

Environmental Conservation

York and Penrith

Equine

York

Gamekeeping and Wildlife

Penrith

Hair and Beauty

Penrith

Horticulture

York and Penrith

Land-Based Service Engineering

York and Penrith

Plant Maintenance

York

Sports Turf

York

Trees and Timber

York and Penrith

Veterinary Nursing

York

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WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS EMPLOYERS’ GUIDE: Introduction

How to Recruit an Apprentice

Funding

Induction

Health and Safety

Respecting Equality and Diversity

Safeguarding

E-safety

British Values

Prevent

Further Information

I N T RO D U CT I O N

An apprenticeship involves on-the-job training with an employer and technical training with a training provider. These two elements come together to provide an apprenticeship for someone who will gain real

practical skills and technical knowledge required for their job and future career. Apprentices are aged 16 - 65 and apprenticeships can

be undertaken by anyone in employment, who needs new skills to take on additional responsibility within the business.

Apprenticeships are available from Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) up to Degree-level and usually take between 12-30 months to complete.Apprenticeships can help businesses across all sectors by offering a route to harness fresh new talent or to develop existing members of your workforce. They ensure that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs now and in the future. The mixture of on and off-the-job learning ensures the apprentice learns the skills needed most by your business. Over 240,000 companies offer apprentice places because they understand the benefits that apprentices bring to their business – increased productivity, improved competitiveness and a committed and competent work force.Why choose us for delivering your apprenticeship?• The College can connect you with

potential apprentices• Reputable training provider with a

proven track record in apprenticeship education

• Experienced and supportive apprenticeship managers and assessors

• Fantastic facilities• The College provides tailored courses

to match your business requirements.

Training

Most of the training is delivered in the workplace; the apprentice will learn the skills they require to do the job competently to the standard set by the industry. This will be supported by the training given by the College.

Whether your business is large or small, an apprenticeship offers a practical hands-on solution to filling skills gaps while offering an attractive incentive for recruiting keen and motivated staff. The College can help you to develop apprenticeship schemes that will provide you with fully trained and highly knowledgeable employees.

Employer benefits

Apprentices tend to be eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company that has invested in them. The apprentice is with an employer because they want to be – they have made an active choice to learn ‘on the job’ and a commitment to a specific career.

• After finishing, 7 in 10 apprentices (77%) stay with the same employer

• Apprenticeship participation now stands at a record level - 899,400 funded apprentices participated on an apprenticeship in the 2015 to 2016 academic year.

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H OW TO R E C RU I T A N A P P R E N T I C E

Getting the right apprentice for you is important for all of us. You need to consider what you require of an apprentice and what you have to

offer them to ensure that this partnership is successful.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:• Identify the person/s within your business

who will provide skills training, mentor and supervise your apprentice/s

• Produce a detailed job description for the apprentice role/s you wish to create (you should consider minimum ages due to machinery to be used, level of ability/skills, qualifications required)

• Decide how many hours per week the apprentice is going to be employed for (usually a minimum of 30 hours is required to complete an apprenticeship, maximum of 40 hours for under 18 year olds, refer to the Working Time Regulations 1998)

• You will need to consider: wages (National Minimum Wage legislation) and frequency of payments, cost of travel and accommodation for College attendance, additional College attendance to achieve the required level of Maths and English, provision of personal protective equipment/clothing, provision of specialist training for licences to practice eg forklift, all terrain vehicle and chainsaw

• Produce an Apprenticeship Agreement that states the expected duration of the apprenticeship

• Produce a Contract of Employment for your apprentice – this should provide the same benefits as your other employees, and make reference to off-the-job training arrangements

• Contact the College to discuss your requirements and develop an Individual Learning Plan once your apprentice has been recruited. The College will also need to interview your apprentice to determine their suitability for the programme

• Provide prospective apprentices with a suitable work trial period to establish suitability for all parties

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP:• Advertise vacancies to prospective

apprentices

• Provide guidance on apprenticeship programmes available, including the levels of Maths and English required

• Provide up-to-date information about funding

• Agree the suitability of the apprentice for the programme

• Once a suitable apprentice has been identified and completed a work trial, an assessor from the College will visit you to agree a service contract and discuss your arrangements for managing Health and Safety. They will advise you at this stage of a date for the College induction

• Carry out a College induction and complete initial assessment to inform the suitability of the apprentice and advise you of any recommendations from the results of this, eg if additional support will be required and any implications of this

• Develop an Individual Learning Plan with you and your apprentice, and agree workplace visit frequency to complete Progress Reviews

F U N D I N G

The way apprenticeships are funded is changing – below is a quick guide to these changes

APPRENTICESHIP LEVYIf your business pays the Apprenticeship Levy you will pay for your

apprenticeship training through your Digital Apprenticeship Service account.

If your apprentice is aged 16-18 years when they start their apprenticeship you will receive £1000 from the Government.*

NON LEVY PAYING (MORE THAN 50 EMPLOYEES)If your business does not pay the Apprenticeship Levy you will have to pay a contribution towards your apprenticeship training. You will pay 10% and the

Government will pay 90%. This is called co-funding.

If your apprentice is aged 16-18 years when they start their apprenticeship you will receive £1000 from the Government.*

NON LEVY PAYING (LESS THAN 50 EMPLOYEES)If your business does not pay the Apprenticeship Levy you will have to pay a contribution towards your apprenticeship training. You will pay 10% and the

Government will pay 90%. This is called co-funding.

However if your apprentice is aged 16-18 years when they start their apprenticeship the Government will pay 100% of your apprenticeship training

costs and you will receive £1000 from the Government.*

If your business employs an apprentice aged 19-24 years who has formerly been in local authority care or has an Education & Health Care Plan, that

apprentice will be funded as 16-18 years in the above categories.

*£500 paid after 3 months and £500 paid after 12 months, via your Training Provider

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I N D U CT I O N

If your apprentice is a new member of staff to your business, they should have a full induction in line with all of your employees.

This will help your apprentice to become familiar with the requirements of their workplace, and understand the policies

and procedures of the business.

It will also give them a clear understanding of what is expected of them, ensuring that they get up to speed and become productive

as quickly as possible.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:• Introduce apprentices to their supervisor

• Show apprentices where everything is in the workplace

• Inform apprentices of emergency procedures to be followed

• Train them in the Health and Safety requirements of your workplace

• Introduce them to all the people they will work with

• Explain your company policies and procedures

• Inform apprentices of their conditions of employment

• Provide apprentices with basic information about the job they will be doing

• Provide apprentices with a mentor if possible

• Issue apprentices with a Contract of Employment

• Issue apprentices with any personal protective equipment or clothing which they will require

• Keep a record of your apprentices induction

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP:• Provide induction training for apprentices

about their apprenticeship training

• Explain to you who is involved and their respective roles

• Advise you on workplace induction and on-the-job training

• Explain how apprenticeships are achieved

• Explain to apprentices their rights and responsibilities

• Ensure apprentices have understood the information which they have been given at induction

• Assess any additional needs and provide appropriate support

• Provide basic Health and Safety training during College induction

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H E A LT H A N D SA F E T Y

Health and safety is everyone’s responsibility and we have a strong commitment to promoting good health and safety practice in the workplace, to ensure that staff and apprentices work in a safe

environment. We expect you to share this commitment under your legal responsibilities as an employer.

Further information can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:• Ensure the health, safety and welfare

of apprentices and bring your policy statement to their attention

• Comply with all current health and safety legislation

• Inform the apprentice about who is responsible for health and safety matters within the company

• Provide initial and ongoing health and safety training in the workplace for apprentices whilst providing necessary protective clothing or equipment (free of charge to the apprentice)

• Report immediately any accidents, near misses or incidents involving your apprentice(s)

• Assess the risks to which apprentices are exposed at work and apply the general principles of prevention

• Introduce and maintain appropriate measures to eliminate or control risks to the lowest reasonable practicable level

• Ensure apprentices are properly supervised by a competent person

• Ensure apprentices are covered under public and employer’s liability insurance

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP:• Using experienced, qualified staff to verify

that you can provide a healthy, safe and supportive work environment

• Provide support to enable you to access suitable health and safety advice

• Monitor health and safety practices throughout the apprenticeship

• Provide health and safety training for apprentices to raise their awareness

• Check your apprentice understands health and safety risk awareness

• Investigate any accidents involving apprentices, assist with reporting under RIDDOR and help agree preventative action

• Ensure that our staff are up-to-date with health and safety legislation and industry expectations

• We can provide specialist industry specific training through our Commercial Training department

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R ES P E CT I N G E Q UA L I T Y A N D D I V E R S I T Y

We are committed to promoting a culture of respect, through the elimination of both direct and indirect discrimination. Our policies are based on continuously seeking to promote equality of opportunity. We

aim to treat all learners and staff fairly and equally during their contact with us and ensure that they know what to do if they have a concern.

We expect that you will share this commitment to ensuring equality and diversity.

The Equality Act 2010 defines the nine legally protected characteristics:

4 Age 4 Disability 4 Gender reassignment 4 Religion or belief 4 Marriage and civil partnership 4 Race 4 Sexual orientation

4 Pregnancy and maternity 4 Sex

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:• Comply with equality and diversity

legislation

• Demonstrate your commitment to equality and diversity in the workplace

• Ensure equality and diversity in selection, recruitment and learning activities

• Ensure that apprentices are treated fairly and equally

• Make sure that apprentices are not bullied, harassed or made to feel unwelcome in the workplace

• Explain to apprentices what to do if they have a complaint about the way they are treated

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP:• Promote equality and diversity throughout

the work-based learning process

• Have a written equality and diversity policy, which staff, apprentices and employers understand

• Advise you on equality and diversity issues and legislation

• Explain to apprentices how they should treat other people

• Challenge any behaviour that does not comply with this

• Make sure that apprentices know what to do if they feel they are being unfairly treated in the workplace

• Act on any complaints from apprentices

• Provide training that covers the basic principles of equality and diversity and check that your apprentice understands this during the review process, throughout their training

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SA F E G UA R D I N G A P P R E N T I C ES

The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults. We have a Safeguarding Policy and a Designated Safeguarding Officer, and other named Safeguarding

Officers covering all of our Centres.

For the purposes of safeguarding, children are defined in the Children Act of 1989 as a person under the age of 18 years. The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 defines a ‘vulnerable adult’ as a person aged 18 and over and:

Incidents and concerns must be reported to the Safeguarding Team as soon as possible. If there is something bothering your apprentice or you are worried about them, you can contact the Safeguarding Team on 07773 312617 or 07971 892692 or alternatively you can email them in confidence at bsafegroup@askham-bryan.ac.uk or bsafegroup@newtonrigg.ac.uk.

We have a common law duty of care to take steps to ensure that young/ vulnerable adult/ apprentices are safe at all times. This also includes being able to identify and act on problems outside of the apprentice’s work.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:• Ensure that you understand your

responsibilities to the apprentice and what safeguarding means to you

• Be aware of the statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of the apprentices (in accordance with the Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016)

• To understand what is meant by safeguarding and promoting the welfare of apprentices and the different ways in which they can be at risk.

• Be familiar with the college’s Safeguarding Policy and how to raise your concerns

• Ensure staff in contact with apprentices or vulnerable people are free from convictions and of sound character and judgment and will not pose any threat or danger to them.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP:• The College is committed to safeguarding

and promoting the welfare of all apprentices.

• We will help employers, staff and apprentices to recognise their safeguarding responsibilities through guidance, support and training

• Ensure all College staff are vetted by Disclosure and Barring Service

• Ensure College staff are trained to recognise and identify potential safeguarding concerns and act on them accordingly

• We will provide you with up-to-date contact details in order that you can raise any safeguarding concerns with us

• Receiving a social care service

• Receiving a health service

• Living in sheltered accommodation

• Detained in custody or under a probation order

• Requiring assistance in the conducting of his/her affairs

• Receiving a service or participating in an activity targeted at older people with disabilities or with physical or mental health conditions

OR any adult whose circumstances make them vulnerable at a specific time.

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E- SA F E T Y

New technologies have become integral to the lives of many people in today’s society; however this is not without dangers. The internet and other digital and information technologies are powerful tools, which open up new opportunities for everyone. Electronic communication

helps us communicate quickly and efficiently with each other. These technologies can stimulate discussion, promote creativity and increase

awareness of context to promote effective learning. Young people should have an entitlement to safe internet access at all times.

We recognise the need to actively encourage online safety awareness amongst apprentices and staff. We have robust policies, procedures and learning in place to ensure the importance of online safety is communicated to all apprentices, staff and employers.

Adults working with young people are in a position of trust and so they must ensure they establish safe and responsible online behaviours.

Young people are likely to have internet access in many places and in many ways, so it’s important to equip them with the skills to use technology safely and appropriately.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:• To ensure apprentices receive clear

guidelines on your organisation’s expectations for acceptable use of the internet and workplace technology, including mobile phones in the workplace

• Consider how apprentices may face online risks and take appropriate safeguarding measures

• To commit to establishing a culture which safeguards staff and young people in their organisation

• To communicate any online safety issues or concerns to the College

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP:• Support our employers to establish a

culture which safeguards apprentices in their organisation

• Assess where and how our apprentices might be at risk of harm from on-line activity

• Undertake relevant training that enables staff to identify and effectively deal with any concerns about online safety

• Have clear safeguarding policies and procedures in place for referring concerns

• Provide learning materials and guidance on online safety

• Project a clear message that unlawful behaviour is unacceptable and that, where appropriate, action will be taken

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B R I T I S H VA LU ES P R E V E N T

All apprentices will be expected to learn about British Values, as part of their apprenticeship framework.

The Prevent strategy, published by the Government in 2011, is part of our overall counter-terrorism strategy. The aim of the

Prevent strategy is to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. In the Act

this has simply been expressed as the need to “prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:• Demonstrate your commitment to British

Values by actively promoting it in your workplace

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:• Demonstrate your commitment to our

Prevent duty

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP:• Promote British Values throughout the

apprenticeship

• Encourage apprentices to respect other people with particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010

• Provide a learning module that defines and explores British Values and additional training opportunities to enable apprentices to apply their newly acquired knowledge to relevant situations and issues

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP:• Assess where and how our apprentices

might be at risk of being drawn into terrorism, including non-violent extremism

• Ensure that all staff undertake relevant Prevent training that enables them to challenge extremist ideas and prevent people from being drawn into terrorism

• Have clear safeguarding policies and procedures in place for referring apprentices who we are concerned about

• Provide training to apprentices that defines and explores the Prevent duty and how it affects them

• Provide additional learning opportunities to enable apprentices to apply their knowledge to relevant situations and issues

Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/

guidance-on-promoting-british-values-in-schools-published

Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance

The 2011 Prevent strategy has three specific strategic objectives:

• Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it

• Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support

• Work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address

Ofsted will evaluate how well we actively promote our Prevent duty to apprentices and employers. There is a statutory duty on all colleges to have due regard to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and to challenge extremist ideas.

Therefore, all college apprentices will be given opportunities to understand the risks of radicalisation and extremism.

The Department for Education’s five-part definition of British Values are defined as:• Democracy• The rule of law• Individual liberty• Mutual respect• Tolerance for those with different

faiths and beliefs

As well as actively promoting these Values to our apprentices, we are embedding these into all work across curriculum areas.

Ofsted will evaluate how well we actively promote fundamental British Values with our apprentices and employers.

If you would like any further information please contact us:

E: apprenticeships@askham-bryan.ac.uk T: 01904 772277

E: apprenticeships@newtonrigg.ac.uk T: 01768 893400

Or visit the website: www.askham-bryan.ac.uk