The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has written to Secretary of
State for Education, , calling on government to
use the upcoming Spring Statement to introduce much-needed
flexibility to the Apprenticeship Levy.
There are three main changes which could improve the functioning
of the Levy for businesses, allowing more training to take place
and reducing the huge amount of unused funds currently sitting in
retailer Levy accounts:
-
Allow high-quality short courses in functional
skills - current Levy fund rules mean courses have to
be a minimum of one year in duration. Short courses are crucial
to improving productivity in retail.
-
Allow Levy funds to cover associated training
costs – these include transport, or backfilling roles
to free up staff for off-site training
-
Allow a wider range of courses to be supported through
Levy funds – allow funds to be used to support more
young people through vital pre-employment and
pre-apprenticeship programmes
Writing to Mr Zahawi, the letter noted that “Figures suggest if
these changes were made, upwards of 8,000 additional
apprenticeship places could be created across retail.” The BRC
hopes to meet the Secretary of State to discuss possible changes
to the Apprenticeship scheme.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail
Consortium, said:
“Bringing about more flexibility in the Apprenticeship Levy would
not cost Government or businesses a penny but could help bring
about an estimated 8,000 new apprenticeship places across the
retail industry. To deliver on government commitments to
upskilling the UK workforce, we need the Apprenticeship Levy to
work for both businesses and apprentices.”
-ENDS-
Notes:
