EC Meeting November 2018

Context

 All children born on or after September 1997 must now remain in some form of education or training until their 18 th birthday  There are extra financial incentives for employers who recruit 16 to 18 year old apprentices.  An employer will receive an additional payment of £1000 when they recruit an apprentice aged 16-18.  The government will pay the costs of Level 1 and Level 2 English and Maths provision for apprentices directly to the provider, up to an amount of £471 for each qualification.  The provider will also receive an additional payment of £1000 for every apprentice aged 16-18 that they support  The Apprenticeship levy could incentivise employers to take on apprentices aged 16- 18, which could lead to an increase in employer investment in training and support against a growing lack of specific skills needed in localised industries.  Small employers (those with fewer than 50 employees) will not have to pay any costs towards the training and assessment of apprentices aged 16-18  In May 2016 the Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson MP, and the Minister for Skills, Nick Boles MP, commissioned a taskforce to explore access to apprenticeships for those with learning disabilities.  One of the key recommendations from this taskforce was that a defined pilot should be conducted exploring how the apprenticeship levy might be tailored to incentivise employers to recruit apprentices with learning disabilities.  It was suggested that the pilot should include private, public and voluntary sector employers and look to test out how such an exemption might work within the levy.  If an employer recruits an apprentice with additional learning needs such as dyslexia, other learning difficulties or disabilities, a payment is made directly to the training provider, of up to £150 per month, to help them with the extra costs of supporting the apprentice’s learning.  Additional costs are available based on evidenced need.

Access to apprenticeships for those with learning disabilities

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