Finding a way to get further training in your chosen career can be difficult, especially if you’re already employed. But did you know that it’s possible to train via an apprenticeship while working for your current employer?

You may be unsure about how to start the conversation with your employer but don’t worry, both yourself, your employer and the organisation will benefit from the extra training, so have a look at our tips on how to approach the topic.

Before addressing your training needs, it’s important to have as much information as possible. It will be helpful to:

• Find an apprenticeship standard that meets your role and your development requirements
• Understand the skills that you’ll be learning
• Know how this will positively impact your work, your team, your manager and the business

Help is at hand!

OxLEP Skills’ Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Advisers Leah Bryan and Nikki Cooper provide fully funded, expert, impartial advice to help employers with every aspect of apprenticeships. Ask your employer to get in touch at skills@oxfordshirelep.com.

How to bring apprenticeships up as a topic

If you’d like to have an official conversation with your employer, you could schedule a meeting and come prepared or bring it up during your regular 1:1 meetings or annual review. Remember – you are discussing your training needs and how it will develop your skills, but also make a note of how this benefits them as well as you. Why should they support it? What do they get out of it? What will you be able to do differently for your employer as a result of the apprenticeship? Do further research into what apprenticeship programme you’re interested in and pitch it almost as a business case.

You may prefer to pursue the topic less formally in conversation before asking to meet. For example, take a look at some of our case studies from other organisations that have benefited from apprenticeships which you can use for both a conversation starter and evidence in a formal meeting.

As well as speaking to your manager, you can also look into ways to contact the learning and development or HR department at your company. They should be able to advise of any existing and available apprenticeship training.

Benefit to employers

It’s known that it has become very difficult to find qualified professionals to fill positions and keep them within the organisation. So explaining to your employer that you would like further training can solve many of their problems. For example, they don’t need to struggle with hiring new people, they will gain qualified, skilled workers in the organisation and it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Support is available through an apprenticeship

If you are on an apprenticeship, there will be expert tutors guiding you to ensure that you learn all of the necessary skills, knowledge and behaviours to succeed in your career. For a business, this means that they do not need to take already qualified colleagues away from their day-to-day jobs to train existing colleagues.

Off-the-job training doesn’t have to mean that you’re not working

Managers can be reluctant to explore apprenticeship options as they require off-the-job training time of at least six hours a week, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be working.

From a business perspective, they will be losing you temporarily for a few hours a week while you train to become a better, more skilled and experienced employee. The key to a healthy and happy organisation is for them to continue to motivate employees and support their needs. By doing this, you will be much more likely to stay within the company rather than seek opportunities elsewhere.

Think of it this way: would they rather lose you for a few hours a week, or lose you altogether? The apprenticeship route means that your manager isn’t losing hours from any existing employees to train you, or losing you to another workplace. Overall, the workplace will grow much stronger and happier.

There are funding options available

If you are introducing apprenticeships to your employer, you may not initially be aware of the funding options.

If they are paying into the apprenticeship levy:

If your organisation has an annual PAYE bill of more than £3 million, they will be paying the apprenticeship levy, so, why not make use of these existing funds to upskill you? If your organisation has unused levy funding then that could be going to waste, as any unused funding returns to the Treasury after two years.

If they are not paying into the apprenticeship levy:

If your employer does not pay the apprenticeship levy, the government will fund all apprenticeship training costs for apprentices who are 16–21 years old when they start training. The government will also fund training for apprentices who are 22–24 years old and have an education, health and care (EHC) plan from their local authority, or who have been in their local authority’s care (there is no upper age limit for doing an apprenticeship). This makes the apprenticeship route much cheaper than in-house training as they do not need to pay for existing workers to train you, or the equipment required for training.

Apprenticeship support for employers

If your employer would like some advice and support with setting up an apprenticeship for you, accessing the apprenticeship levy, or they have any questions, ask them to get in touch with our Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Advisers Leah Bryan and Nikki Cooper, who provide expert, impartial advice to help employers with every aspect of apprenticeships, at skills@oxfordshirelep.com. There is no charge for this support as it is funded through our Social Contract Programme through the government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund, via Oxfordshire County Council.

Apprentices, businesses, education providers and champions of apprenticeships from right across the county come together for the annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards, one of the leading annual business celebration events anywhere in the region.

Becoming a sponsor or supporter of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a very special event, while showcasing your organisation and celebrating your apprenticeship success. There is a range of oppotunities available, from being the headline sponsor, judging and awarding a category, to making a small financial contribtion to help make the celebration evening a special occasion.

There are a number of opportunities to support the awards:

St Mungo’s is a leading UK homelessness charity supporting over 3150 people every night. St Mungo’s services in Oxford include outreach for people experiencing rough sleeping, with access to an Employment Support team.

Martin joined the Employment Support programme at St. Mungo’s in May 2023, having spent most of his career in catering and hospitality. Martin wanted a career change and didn’t really know what he wanted to do, other than he knew that his end goal was paid employment within the construction industry.

In this instance, Grace, one of the Employment Specialists at St. Mungo’s and Martin decided that a good first step would be for Martin to obtain a work experience placement within construction. Initially, Martin and Grace contacted numerous construction firms throughout Oxfordshire, but as they didn’t receive any feedback, they decided to change tack.

Grace got in touch with the St. Mungo’s Corporate Partnership team, who connected them with Danielle McCarthy, Social Value and Community Manager at The Hill Group. Hill is one of the construction partners working on-site delivering Oxford North, a new innovation district for the city, set to open in 2025. Oxford North has an ambitious Community Employment Plan, supported by OxLEP Skills Community Employment Plan Adviser, Cat Armstrong, which sets out how the project will maximise the opportunities created for local people like Martin during the next 18 months of construction.

Grace contacted Danielle and provided her with some context about the Employment Support programme at St. Mungo’s and additionally introduced Martin, as a client seeking a work placement within construction. Danielle advised that there were some opportunities within their Oxford North programme and advised that they could facilitate Martin there. Once the date was set, Danielle put together a programme placement schedule, covering lots of different aspects of construction related work, showcasing different career pathways and opportunities.

The placement included multiple site tours, a day with the Sustainability and Environmental team, dedicated time with the Quantity Surveyors, the Technical and Design team and the commercial teams, before ending with a CV workshop and coaching session.

Following the placement, which Martin managed to attend every day, he has decided that he wants to focus on construction employment pathways within Technical and Design and complete additional work placements in this area. When Grace followed up with Danielle, Danielle had advised that the team had really enjoyed working with Martin and advised that The Hill Group were happy to work with St. Mungo’s Employment Support on work placements and paid roles in the future.

Martin said that he found the placement really enjoyable. “I learned more than I thought I would and despite the placement being brief, I felt empowered to ask the team when I didn’t understand something and felt the placement played well into my inquisitive nature.”

“I felt that the placement gave me an opportunity to be part of a work based setting without the immediate pressure of paid work and I’m really grateful for the team who were really hospitable and friendly.”

Find out more about Community Employment Plans:

Building performance specialists LCMB Building Performance Ltd have a fantastic Degree Apprentice Consultant opportunity available for a school leaver or mature student looking to make a significant impact in the field of building services engineering.

This exciting opportunity commences in September 2024 and is based in their Adderbury office near Banbury. The apprentice will work towards a BEng (Hons) Building Service Design Engineer Level 6 Apprenticeship.

About LCMB Building Performance Ltd.

Engineering is the practical and creative application of science and maths, playing a pivotal role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing problems. LCMB Building Performance Ltd are at the forefront of this endeavor. Their team combines engineering expertise with project and operational management skills to enhance the efficiency of workplaces and buildings. Their goal? To optimise every building for its users while minimising operational costs, energy usage and carbon emissions. This not only reduces the climate impact of buildings but also aligns with their clients’ sustainability and climate change strategies. Their diverse client base includes some of the UK’s leading universities, NHS Trusts and private sector businesses.

Join the team: a unique opportunity in building performance

Building on their commitment to sustainability and efficiency, LCMB are now looking for a new team member who shares their passion for energy, climate change and sustainability. The ideal candidate will be proactive, resourceful, self-motivated and possess excellent interpersonal skills. A keen eye for detail and strong presentation and written abilities are vital, along with proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word. This role is not just a job, it’s a chance to make a tangible difference in the field of building performance.

The role: making a real-world impact

In this role, the apprentice won’t just be learning; they will be actively involved in solving real-world problems from day one. Working alongside LCMB’s experienced team of engineers, energy and facilities managers, they will gain invaluable hands-on experience. Additionally, they will study for a BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering at London Southbank University on a day release basis, with all fees covered by the business and government. This unique blend of practical work and academic study is complemented by an annual salary and benefits package. 

Skills and qualifications required

To be eligible for the Apprentice Consultant role, candidates should meet the following qualifications:

• A Level BBC, including Mathematics and ideally a Science subject (Chemistry or Physics) [UCAS points: 112].
• T-level (Merit or above) in Construction: Design, Surveying, and Planning [UCAS points: 120].
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DDM in an Engineering subject, with strong performance in Mathematics [UCAS points: 128].
• Building Services Engineering Technician level 3 apprenticeship DD [UCAS points: 96], plus a Pass or Distinction at EPA.
• Access to Engineering qualifications with 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits, including Maths and Physical Science credits.
• A minimum of 5 GCSEs A-C, including Maths and English (or equivalent).

How to apply

Please visit https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/VAC1000270747 to apply. The closing date is Monday 26th August at 11:59pm.

This apprenticeship is supported by the transfer of apprenticeship levy funds from Legal & General, facilitated by our Apprenticeship Advisor Leah Bryan. LCMB also benefited from an apprenticeship levy pledge from Howdens to fund training for their current Degree Apprentice Consultant as featured in our recent case study.

For support to make an apprenticeship levy pledge, or to access pledged funds, contact skills@oxfordshirelep.com.

Find out more about the apprenticeship support available to employers from OxLEP Skills:

More than 80 fully-funded places are available on eco-friendly home improvement courses for people based in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have partnered with OxLEP Skills, Abingdon & Witney College and education charity SOFEA to upskill local residents and businesses.

The councils have funded 82 places for ‘green’ building and construction courses from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. These courses at Abingdon & Witney College, include Installation and Maintenance of Heat Pumps, Understanding Domestic Retrofit and general awareness courses.

You can find out more about these courses and how to sign-up for them at a drop-in event on Monday 19 August at the Net Zero Skills Hub, at Abingdon & Witney College’s Abingdon Campus from 9.30am to 11am.

The councils have also contributed funding to OxLEP and SOFEA’s ‘No Limits’ programme, designed to offer support for residents into green skills training and employment.

The programme includes assistance for those who need help to get a job, including free laptops and mobile phones to develop digital skills as well as travel grants for those needing financial help to get to work, school or college. A full-time member of staff will be on hand to help with any queries and offer advice *.

Sally Andreou, Skills Hub Manager at OxLEP, said: “Ensuring our businesses are able to benefit from a top-class and well-trained workforce is a key priority for OxLEP – therefore, the fully-funded provision to be delivered by Abingdon & Witney College means our construction sector will continue to be in a superior position, meeting the demands of a greener future and even support the county to capitalise on the opportunities the green economy will present.

“We would encourage residents across South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.”

Councillor Robin Bennett, South Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, and Deputy Leader, said: “Many of us would like to adapt our homes to use less energy, or would like to generate our own using renewables, to reduce both our climate change impact and our household bills. Many homes will need new types of heating systems, such as heat pumps. Having people with the right skills is vital to make this a reality, and I’m happy that the council is working with some great local organisations to provide a variety of opportunities to learn.”

Councillor Bethia Thomas, Vale of White Horse District Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Action, said: “These green courses are designed to help residents and businesses to gain essential skills and knowledge to excel in the Green Skills sector, playing a crucial role in creating a sustainable future.”

Jacqui Canton, Principal and Chief Executive at Abingdon & Witney College said: “We are thrilled to launch this initiative, offering free courses that will empower individuals with essential skills in green technology. At the heart of our education is the vision ‘Be You Be Extraordinary,’ where everyone achieves more than they believe is possible. This initiative underscores our commitment to enhancing employability and supporting a sustainable future for our community.”

Taraji Ogunnubi, ‘No Limits’ Programme Manager at SOFEA, said: “Our partnership to offer fully funded green skills courses is a vital step towards building a resilient, eco-friendly future. At SOFEA, we are committed to empowering our community through education, sustainable practices, and direct support.

“In addition to education, SOFEA operates food larders across Oxfordshire, which serve as key community hubs. These larders not only help in addressing food insecurity but also facilitate regular engagement with residents, providing them with opportunities to learn about and participate in green initiatives. 

“By equipping local residents and businesses with the skills necessary for eco-friendly developments and engaging them through our larders, we are enhancing employability and driving significant environmental change. We encourage everyone to seize this opportunity to become pioneers in the green economy, transforming their homes and workplaces and community into models of sustainability.”  

With employers with an annual pay bill of £3m+ paying 0.5% of this as an apprenticeship levy, these employers are also able to pledge up to 25% of their levy annually to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), charities and social enterprises to fund their own apprenticeship training and assessment.

A key initiative within OxLEP Skills’ Social Contract Programme, the ‘Grow Your Own’ Levy Pledge Initiative sees Oxfordshire’s levy-paying businesses transfer their unused apprenticeship levy funds to other organisations within the county to support their own skills needs – rather than returning back to the Treasury.

In our latest video, Leah Bryan, Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Advisor for OxLEP Skills answers some of your key questions as to how the scheme works and how the initiative can support your business with your own skills requirements.

What exactly is OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative?

How can OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative support my business’ skills needs?

But how can OxLEP Skills support me through the Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative?

How much funding is still available through OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative?

To find out more about the support available, visit our apprenticeship support page or email skills@oxfordshirelep.com

A new, £1.7million initiative – led by OxLEP – has today (16 July) been launched and is set to make a major impact on employment opportunities across the county.

The Skills Bootcamps programme, part of the Department for Education’s ‘Skills for Life’ activity, is being led in Oxfordshire by OxLEP Skills and will be delivered between this summer, through to March 2025.

It is set to give Oxfordshire residents the opportunity to develop a variety of sector-specific skills, helping to fast-track individuals to potential, future interview opportunities and ultimately, paid work.

The programme will in-particular boost opportunities for jobseekers, those re-entering work after a career gap, or retirees returning to employment, likely triggered by the cost-of-living crisis.

Working with a range of top-class delivery partners, Skills Bootcamps will provide free, flexible courses to its participants – running for up to 16 weeks in some instances – available to residents from across Oxfordshire, subject to the programme’s eligibility criteria.

This new initiative follows other recent successes for OxLEP in supporting the county’s businesses and – in turn – its residents, seeking new job opportunities.

One of OxLEP Skills’ current initiatives – the £1.7million Social Contract programme, funded by the Government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund, via Oxfordshire County Council – has seen the organisation firmly-support small to medium-sized businesses in Oxfordshire to create new apprenticeship placements, thanks to securing unused apprenticeship levy spend from some of the county’s larger businesses, matching those pledges to interested and applicable smaller organisations.

The initiative has supported those smaller businesses’ own respective growth plans, whilst also directly helping to develop new apprenticeship openings across several key and critical sectors in the county – including health and social care.

In May, OxLEP announced that it had so far managed to secure £3.5million-worth of apprenticeship levy pledges from Oxfordshire-based large businesses, leading to around 200 new apprenticeships being created.

Now, its newly-launched programme – the Skills Bootcamps – will see those signing-up being able to develop new skills in areas such as life sciences, health and green construction.

More widely, Skills Bootcamps is set to play a key role across many Oxfordshire businesses and sectors, helping them to address specific skills gaps – with critical gaps previously identified via the county’s Local Skills Improvement Plan.

Nigel Tipple – Chief Executive of OxLEP – said: “We are delighted to be launching this new programme, building on our solid reputation of supporting Oxfordshire residents to reach their potential whilst also helping our business community to benefit from a well-trained, pipeline of talent.

“Our Skills Bootcamps programme will increase the supply of technical qualifications and skills in Oxfordshire, helping to give some of our key industries and our SME community greater resilience during a key economic period.

“We are delighted to be working with a number of delivery partners too, each set to provide top learning opportunities for the programme’s participants.

“We are extremely excited to be leading this programme and look forward to seeing the positive effect Skills Bootcamps will have right across Oxfordshire – we believe it will make a significant impact on our county’s workforce and one, very much for the better.”

OxLEP are also keen to ensure the programme continues to meet business need and is asking the county’s business community to play its part, including creating interview opportunities for those successfully completing courses.

Nigel Tipple added: “Ultimately, we want to ensure people are finding their way into employment at the end of their Skills Bootcamps journey – with that in mind, if your business operates in any of the sectors the programme is supporting, we would be delighted to hear from you and understand what opportunities could arise within your business.”

A total of three courses are currently on offer via the Skills Bootcamps programme, with each course set to begin in the coming weeks – more courses and associated delivery partners are set to be announced later this summer.

Listed below is the current Skills Bootcamps programme of activity, as well as the providers leading on their respective delivery.

Health and life sciences-focused Skills Bootcamps:

• CSR Scientific Training (laboratory assistant or laboratory technician skills)
• Skills4Pharmacy (pharmacy laboratory technician skills)

Green Construction-focused Skills Bootcamps:

• Reed in Partnership (heat pump skills)

Interested participants are being encouraged to apply to a Skills Bootcamps course as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Find out more about Skills Bootcamps.

Between February and July 2024, OxLEP Skills provided a fully-funded monthly webinar series to lend a helping hand to Oxfordshire employers who employ apprentices and are aiming for successful achievements.

Hawk Training delivered each webinar with and on behalf of OxLEP Skills and covered different topics on the journey of an apprentice, starting with apprentice recruitment and ending with End Point Assessment.

Visit the playlist to access all the recordings, or click on the links below to watch each one.

Apprenticeship Recruitment and Expectations (28 February)
Watch on demand

Apprenticeship Employer Engagement (20 March)
Watch on demand

Apprentice Engagement (17 April)
Watch on demand

Apprentice Resilience, Including Mentoring (8 May)
Watch on demand

Apprenticeship EPA Process, Gateway and Planning (12 June)
Watch on demand

Apprenticeship EPA Project Requirements (10 July)
Watch on demand

Our expert Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Adviser Andrea Harrison offers fully-funded support with all aspects of apprenticeships, including completions. If you’d like some help and advice, get in touch with Andrea at andrea.harrison@oxfordshirelep.com

Find out more about apprenticeship support available to employers.

Introduction

Navenio’ s HR Manager, Rebecca Kyte, advocating for the use of apprenticeships to upskill their current workforce applauds OxLEP Skills’ offer to employers: “As a scaleup business, budget constraints can hinder your training needs, so utilising the OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme has been ideal for us – a process with which OxLEP Skills’ advisors have provided invaluable support. They’ve really taken the time to understand our business requirements and made connections which align well with our values and mission.” 

Background 

Founded in 2015, Navenio is a scale-up tech company which has exploited innovative research developed by a senior academic from the University of Oxford. They provide AI Deep Tech, predominantly for the healthcare sector, but are looking to expand into other sectors. Their people and asset tracking software utilises existing smartphone devices to improve business efficiency for organisations, such as the NHS, by ensuring the right people, such as porters are in the right place at the right time. Their ultimate goal is to assist the NHS in improving efficiency and as a result improve patient experience.

Navenio employs 55 people across its base in Oxford and two other sites in the US and Greece. Navenio HR Manager, Rebecca Kyte, says the company is looking forward to rapid expansion throughout 2024 as they gain access to new markets. Keeping skills current within the workforce is a recognised challenge within the sector. The ability to access funding through the OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme has had a transformative effect on the organisation. Rebecca says: “Many of our existing team members will benefit from additional training to fully equip them for the increased volume of work due to business growth.” 

The OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme has helped Navenio to invest in the training they need. Without this fully funded support, Navenio would have had to be more selective in what training they could commit to across the team and training would have been delivered on a slower roll out.

Implementation 

As an employer, Navenio fully utilised its apprenticeship levy fund. As the company was in need to further expand its workforce and to help fund seven new apprenticeships, Navenio turned to OxLEP Skills for help to access the levy transfer scheme.  The seven apprentices included three Data Analyst Apprentices at level 4 and four Business Analyst Apprentices at level 4.

The impact of upskilling through apprenticeships has had immediate effect, with Rebecca noting that employees are acquiring new knowledge and skills leading to improved performance.

The customer support team has seen the biggest benefit in productivity through being able to quickly provide data analytics to live clients including hospitals, highlighting key risks and less efficient areas of the organisation.

Rebecca says: “As a business one of the Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) that we have been set is to optimise our efficiency to fully support multiple clients on a global scale, this process has enabled the apprentice to meet the needs of the client more quickly and at greater depth.”

Key Findings 

Rebecca reflected that: “As a smaller team we wouldn’t have had the capacity to manage the apprenticeship levy scheme ourselves, so having OxLEP Skills as a partner and utilising their expertise has been brilliant, we are most grateful.”

Rebecca also notes that the promise of fully funded training is an added selling point when recruiting and that team members that have completed an apprenticeship are more likely to stay with the company for the duration of the course, and beyond. As part of the ongoing People Strategy at Navenio, the HR team are heavily invested in career development for their employees. A strong appraisal process and Talent Review Process (TRP) means that skills gaps are identified and objectives for progression are documented. Rebecca works closely with each member of the team to understand their aspirations and from that Career Development Plans (CDP) are created. The apprenticeship courses are integral to these discussions as they enable Navenio to map potential growth for staff and discuss their long-term goals with the business, meaning many employees feel they have a strong career path at Navenio and will remain with the business long term.

As Navenio looks to scale its operations, having subject matter experts within the business means that they can work much more efficiently and in turn support a larger number of clients.

Testimonial 

“As a business, we are always looking for innovative ways to train our team, upskilling our employees helps with engagement and retention as well as strategically meeting the business goals. As a scale-up, budget constraints can hinder this process and so using the OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme was ideal for us, OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisors have provided invaluable support in the process, having taken time to understand Navenio’ s business requirements and made connections with appropriate apprenticeship levy paying businesses to match with Navenio’s values and mission. Thanks to them we have been able to support the training of seven apprentices who are already demonstrating an impact in their current roles.”  Rebecca Kyte, HR Manager at Navenio.

Contact skills@oxfordshirelep.com to find out more about how the OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme can support skills growth for your business.

Find out more about the apprenticeship support available to employers from OxLEP Skills:

Over £3.5m in levy pledges has been received through the initiative to date as part of the Social Contract Programme – a £1.7 million programme of activity funded by the government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund, via Oxfordshire County Council and led by OxLEP Skills – to address the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic relating to unemployment, barriers to employment, education, and training.

The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Skills Team (OxLEP Skills) has announced its successful ‘Grow Your Own’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge initiative has reached a new milestone – totalling £3.5 million of funds transferred since the Programme’s launch in May 2022 which has been optimised to create 185 new apprenticeship starts across the county.

Having gained strong momentum after the launch of the initiative from levy pledging businesses, OxLEP Skills are now calling on the county’s SMEs, charities and social enterprises – with particular emphasis on a number of key sectors – to take up the funds and take on an apprentice, with the financial costs largely alleviated.

The latest levy pledge milestone means OxLEP Skills continues to far exceed an original £1.3 million target of pledges set for the Social Contract programme – with funding continuing to find its way to local businesses all the time.

The apprenticeship levy is paid by large employers with an annual pay bill of £3 million or more. Following a recent government announcement, companies can now choose to transfer up to 50% of their levy funds each year to help other businesses pay for their apprenticeship training and assessment – doubling the 25% transfer cap previous.

If levy funding is not utilised within those large companies, or pledged to smaller businesses, it is lost to Oxfordshire and returned to the Treasury. The ‘Grow Your Own’ initiative aims to keep Oxfordshire’s apprenticeship funds – and thus opportunities – in Oxfordshire.

Interested businesses can contact OxLEP Skills to express their interest and find out if they are eligible for funding, but particular sectors urged to apply for the funding as identified in the Oxfordshire Local Skills Improvement Plan include:

• Manufacturing (Science and Innovation)
• Digital (ICT)
• Green skills (Environmental)
• Charity
• Adult care
• Early years education
• Youth workers
• Hospitality and Visitor Economy
• Haulage and Logistics
• Construction and the built environment
• Health and Life Sciences

Businesses can utilise the funds to tailor specific apprenticeship opportunities as per their individual needs, and certain funds have been pledged to support the following specific apprenticeship standards:

• Level 4 Data Analyst Apprenticeship
• Level 5 Departmental/Operations Manager Apprenticeship

Businesses looking to take on apprentices within these roles are urged to get in touch with OxLEP Skills for more information.

Pledges taking the initiative to the £3.5 million-mark include leading facilities management company Mitie, who have pledged £100,000 to champion women in STEM apprenticeships. This investment is set to pave the way for countless opportunities and advancements in the field, making a tangible impact on the future of the Oxfordshire workforce.

Another business to pledge their unspent levy are financial advising specialists Legal & General, who have pledged £100,000, with £16,000 utilised already to support two Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprentices and one Early Years practitioner Level 2 Apprentice at Rosewood Nursery in Chipping Norton.

Kelly Gough, Manager at Rosewood Nursery, said: “We are a newly established nursery in Chipping Norton. As with many areas across the UK, childcare spots are in high demand and the Early Years sector is notoriously challenging for recruitment, especially since the pandemic hit.

“Despite this, today, we have grown into a team of nine exceptionally skilled childcare practitioners, including Kate and Michelle (two of our apprentices), and we now cater to 40 children. Our referrals for childcare spots continue to increase weekly and soon, we will be in a position to recruit more staff.

“However, this growth would not have been possible without Michelle and Kate. Their career advancement opportunities, dedication, and ability to learn quickly on the job have been crucial. Their progress has been instrumental in both their personal development and our nursery’s success.

“Financial support from Legal and General to cover their qualification costs has had a significant impact. Without such support, Kate might not have returned to Early Years, and Michelle would have struggled to afford the transition into this sector.

“The financial backing through the apprenticeship levy pledge scheme and support from sponsors are vital. Without this, the decline in childcare educators would likely continue, and more nurseries could face closure due to staffing shortages or insufficient qualified personnel.”

Sally Andreou, Skills Hub Manager at OxLEP, said: “We’re extremely proud to announce yet another apprenticeship levy-pledge milestone – completely smashing our original target – and showcasing yet again how the Social Contract programme and we at OxLEP Skills are supporting the provision of – and access to – skills within Oxfordshire.

“The interest we’ve had from businesses wishing to pledge their unused levy funds is testament to the calibre of organisations we have in Oxfordshire and their wish to further skills and retain talent in the area.

“It is now essential we match the funds pledged with SMEs looking to take on an apprentice without the initial financial ‘burden’, as it may be considered – so we are urging businesses in the county that can benefit from these funds to get in touch. If not – we will lose these outstanding funds back to the Treasury.

“Oxfordshire is renowned for its presence in a vast array of key sectors – and it is in many of these that a real opportunity to take on an apprentice, or use apprenticeships to upskill existing teams – exists.

“We continue to encourage small businesses in Oxfordshire – who have not yet taken advantage of the funds available through the apprenticeship levy transfer scheme – to get involved and unlock the door to a growing future workforce.”

Other areas in which the Social Contract seeks to address the impacts of areas such as barriers to employment, education and training as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, include through the ‘No Limits’ programme – funding 5 triage workers at SOFEA’s food larders across Oxfordshire – aiding customers with any skills and employability support they might require. The programme also offers IT equipment, as well as training and travel bursaries to support access to employment or training.

Find out if your business could be eligible to take up the levy funding, pledge your own levy, or find out more about the other initiatives within the Social Contract by getting in touch with OxLEP Skills’ Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Advisers today: skills@oxfordshirelep.com.

Apprentices, businesses, education providers and champions of apprenticeships – from right across the county – came together this evening (16 May) for this year’s Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards, one of the leading annual business celebration events anywhere in the region.

The spectacular awards – now in its eighth year and organised by OxLEP Skills – saw close to 200 people come together at Williams Racing’s Experience Centre in Grove to celebrate all things apprenticeships. Many more joined the event via a live-stream hosted on OxLEP’s website.

Supported by a business-led committee, the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards aims to champion work-based learning excellence across a breadth of sectors. This year, the event saw winners announced from 13 categories, all of which it is hoped will act as a major inspiration to businesses, encouraging them to explore what an apprentice could bring to their respective companies.

The headline sponsor for this year’s awards was Oxford North – other awards sponsors included Grundon, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Blenheim & Pye Homes, Milestone Infrastructure, Abbott Diabetes Care, IST INTECH, Hill, The Engineering Trust, Oxford Professional Education, Assure UK and Owen Mumford.

The awards were hosted by Simon Newton – Joint Managing Director of Darke & Taylor – and Sarah Jaycock, Executive Director of High Spec Composites.

OxLEP also welcomed David Johnston OBE, the MP for Wantage and Didcot, and Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing. Mr Johnston gave an opening address at the event.

Below is a full list of this year’s winners and highly-commended finalists:

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by Grundon

Winner:

• Joshua Jones, Highways Operative, Milestone Infrastructure

Highly commended:

• Liv Chapman, Apprentice Hairdresser, Popham Hairdressing Ltd
• Lucy Parsons, Apprentice Finance and Accounting Technician, University of Oxford

Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Winner:

• Henry Fletcher, Apprentice Carpenter, Parker Turnbull Developments Limited

Highly commended:

• Angel Branker, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, University of Oxford
• Isaac Pylee, Ground Operations Apprentice

Higher Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Blenheim & Pye Homes

Winner:

• Cecilia Sofia Badiale, Architect, Ridge and Partners LLP

Highly commended:

• Thomas Renault, Data and Performance Analyst, Milestone Infrastructure
• Aaron Robinson, Rail Degree Apprentice, Amey Consulting 

Special Recognition Award

Sponsored by Milestone Infrastructure

Winner:

• Anna Christopher, Apprentice Business Administrator, University of Oxford

Highly commended:

• Jay Formento, Ward Administrator, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Jack Paviour, Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team, Oxfordshire County Council

Rising Star Award

Sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care

Winner:

• George Soanes, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, LTi Metaltech Ltd / Metaltest

Highly commended:

• Gail Fennymore, Rehabilitation Assistant, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Rhian Mayer, Adult Mental Health Time and Recovery Support Worker, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Shining Star Award

Sponsored by IST INTECH

Winner:

• Nairne Barker, Strategic Apprenticeship Lead, Oxfordshire County Council

Highly commended:

• Jade Brooker, Audit Manager / Practice Manager, Assure UK
• Daniel Reid, Business and Programme Support Officer, Oxfordshire County Council

Apprenticeship Ambassador Award

Sponsored by Hill

Winner:

• Grace Dawson, EPA Coordinator, Explosive Learning Solutions

Highly commended:

• Max Evans, Apprentice Recruitment Assistant, University of Oxford
• Jack Paviour, Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team, Oxfordshire County Council 

Careers Champion Award

Sponsored by The Engineering Trust

Winner:

• Hannah Gordon, Careers Leader, Fitzwaryn School

Highly commended:

• Hayley Laughlin, Post-14 Lead, Bardwell School
• Jessica Manns, Careers Lead, Subject Lead of History & Humanities Teacher, Greyfriars Catholic School 

Inspiring the Future Award

Sponsored by Oxford Professional Education

Winner:

• Abbott Diabetes Care

Highly commended:

• Morgan Sindall Construction
• Oxford Playhouse Trust

Training Provider Individual Award

Sponsored by NielsenIQ

Winner:

• Mark Dickson, Apprentice Trainer, MTC Training Ltd

Highly commended:

• Justin Merritt, CEO / Director, Ignite Training
• Heidi Silvester, Assessor / Tutor, Introtrain & Forum Limited / Oxford International College of Beauty

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (<250 Employees) Award

Sponsored by Assure UK 

Winner:

• Olamalu

Highly commended:

• Edgars
• PMC

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (250+ Employees) Award

Sponsored by Owen Mumford 

Winner:

• Milestone Infrastructure

Highly commended:

• Oxfordshire County Council
• University of Oxford

Oxfordshire Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by Oxford North

Winners:

• Cecilia Sofia Badiale, Architect, Ridge and Partners LLP
• Joshua Jones, Highways Operative, Milestone Infrastructure

Thank you sponsors and supporters

We would like to say a massive thank you to our headline sponsor Oxford North and all our category sponsors.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to all our other generous sponsors and supporters: Abingdon & Witney College, Activate Apprenticeships, Darke & Taylor, High Spec Composites, Jonas Software, Olamalu, Oxfordshire Advanced Skills, Oxford Brookes University, Oxfordshire County Council, South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, Siemens Healthineers, University of Oxford and Williams Racing.

The eighth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy across a wide range of sectors.

Winners will be announced at a special celebration evening on 16 May at Williams Racing Conference Centre.

We are delighted to introduce this year’s fantastic finalists, who are listed below. Congratulations and good luck to all!

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by Grundon

Finalists:

• Liv Chapman, Apprentice Hairdresser, Popham Hairdressing Ltd
• Joshua Jones, Highways Operative, Milestone Infrastructure
• Lucy Parsons, Apprentice Finance and Accounting Technician, University of Oxford

Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Finalists:

• Angel Branker, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, University of Oxford
• Henry Fletcher, Apprentice Carpenter, Parker Turnbull Developments Limited
• Isaac Pylee, Ground Operations Apprentice

Higher Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Blenheim & Pye Homes

Finalists:

• Cecilia Badiale, Architect, Ridge and Partners LLP
• Thomas Renault, Data and Performance Analyst, Milestone Infrastructure
• Aaron Robinson, Rail Degree Apprentice, Amey Consulting 

Special Recognition Award

Sponsored by Milestone Infrastructure

Finalists:

• Anna Christopher, Apprentice Business Administrator, University of Oxford
• Jay Formento, Ward Administrator, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Jack Paviour, Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team, Oxfordshire County Council

Rising Star Award

Sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care

Finalists:

• Gail Fennymore, Rehabilitation Assistant, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Rhian Mayer, Adult Mental Health Time and Recovery Support Worker, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• George Soanes, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, LTi Metaltech Ltd / Metaltest

Shining Star Award

Sponsored by IST INTECH

Finalists:

• Nairne Barker, Strategic Apprenticeship Lead, Oxfordshire County Council
• Jade Brooker, Audit Manager / Practice Manager, Assure UK
• Daniel Reid, Business and Programme Support Officer, Oxfordshire County Council

Apprenticeship Ambassador Award

Sponsored by Hill

Finalists:

• Grace Dawson, EPA Coordinator, Explosive Learning Solutions
• Max Evans, Apprentice Recruitment Assistant, University of Oxford
• Jack Paviour, Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team, Oxfordshire County Council 

Careers Champion Award

Sponsored by The Engineering Trust

• Hannah Gordon, Careers Leader, Fitzwaryn School
• Hayley Laughlin, Post-14 Lead, Bardwell School
• Jessica Manns, Careers Lead, Subject Lead of History & Humanities Teacher, Greyfriars Catholic School 

Inspiring the Future Award

Sponsored by Oxford Professional Education

Finalists:

• Abbott Diabetes Care
• Morgan Sindall Construction
• Oxford Playhouse Trust

Training Provider Individual Award

Sponsored by NielsenIQ

Finalists:

• Mark Dickson, Apprentice Trainer, MTC Training Ltd
• Justin Merritt, CEO / Director, Ignite Training
• Heidi Silvester, Assessor / Tutor, Introtrain & Forum Limited / Oxford International College of Beauty

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (<250 Employees) Award

Sponsored by Assure UK 

Finalists:

• Edgars
• Olamalu
• PMC

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (250+ Employees) Award

Sponsored by Owen Mumford 

Finalists:

• Milestone Infrastructure
• Oxfordshire County Council
• University of Oxford

Oxfordshire Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by Oxford North

• To be chosen by the headline sponsor Oxford North from the winners of the 5 apprentice award categories

Thank you sponsors and supporters

We would like to say a massive thank you to our headline sponsor Oxford North and all our category sponsors.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to all our other generous sponsors and supporters: Abingdon & Witney College, Activate Apprenticeships, Darke & Taylor, High Spec Composites, Jonas Software, Olamalu, Oxfordshire Advanced Skills, Oxford Brookes University, Oxfordshire County Council, South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, Siemens Healthineers, University of Oxford and Williams Racing.