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.

Harriet Stuchbury, Senior Consultant at building performance specialists LCMB explains how SMEs within the facilities management sector can benefit from the apprenticeship levy transfer scheme.

We spend up to 90% of our working lives in buildings, so at LCMB we’ve made it our mission to make sure that buildings perform as well as they possibly can. High performance to us means buildings that contribute to the long term goals of an organisation, allowing building users and organisations to thrive. We’re a small team of consultants based in Adderbury, just outside of Banbury, in Oxfordshire, and though we may be small, our client list is as large and diverse as a Facilities Manager’s to do list.

Our consultants are subject matter experts who help our clients navigate challenges, improve operations and achieve their goals by offering expertise, objective analysis and practical solutions. From concept through to completion, LCMB deliver building optimisation projects that improve your workplaces’ infrastructure and facilities, energy consumption and performance, by delivering a sustainable programme that will drive tangible cost savings and improve your return on investment.

As an SME in the FM sector, we’re noticing, much like other businesses across the sector, that there is a significant skills shortage. With the range of projects we lead for our clients, we need to be agile, adaptable, and have breadth as well as depth of experience. Taking on a degree apprentice gives that individual the experience of the workplace whilst they’re learning. Being both student and consultant gives them the skills to adapt to solve the task at hand, which as a consultant is a vital skill. It also helps our productivity, which is not to say we give the “boring” or “less-important” jobs to the apprentice.

Our Degree Apprentice Consultant, Dominic Hayes, started with us in September 2023. He has been doing data analysis of energy consumption for a number of NHS hospitals, providing support in report writing for a top London university and project management support for a large UK business park. We feel that giving him tasks that contribute to his learning, and make a real-life impact in the work that we produce for our clients shows that we trust him straight away and gives him a sense of responsibility and ownership.

Dom is working towards achieving a BEng (Hons) Building Service Design Engineer Level 6, which covers areas such as heating and ventilation systems, internal environment and comfort, construction practice, energy management, and building services engineering principles. The modules suit both our business and client requirements as we deliver projects that help our clients improve their building infrastructure and seek to save costs on energy. These are all modules that Dom has been able to put into immediate practice.

Dom said: “My daily responsibilities at LCMB compliment my studies and I find the work I do at university seamlessly integrates with my role. There is a broad scope of technical knowledge I acquire from university work which I can apply directly to my job, such as understanding technical drawings and using software such as AutoCAD and Revit. This connection between academic learning and practical application ensures a well-rounded approach to my skill development.”

As an Oxfordshire based SME, we have always had a close relationship with Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) Skills, a local organisation who aim to maximise the full potential of every person who lives and works in the county. They have supported us previously with advertising job roles and have made us aware of careers fairs aimed at school leavers. It was OxLEP who made us aware of the apprenticeship levy transfer, a scheme where employers who do not utilise all their apprenticeship levy themselves can pledge up to 25 per cent of their funds to support SMEs, charities and social enterprises.

Fully-funded through the Social Contract Programme, OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisors provide expert, impartial advice to support employers with all aspects of apprenticeships, from start to completion, helping to generate new opportunities for local people to take the first step on their career ladder, retrain or upskill. This includes supporting organisations that pay the apprenticeship levy – those with an annual PAYE bill of more than £3 million – to make best use of these funds to support apprenticeship training and assessment. Employers that don’t utilise all their apprenticeship levy themselves can pledge up to 25% of their funds to support SMEs, charities and social enterprises. OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisors find local matches for these pledges, retaining the funds in Oxfordshire to support apprenticeship growth and skills development within the county.

OxLEP’s Apprenticeship Advisor, Leah Bryan, matched us with kitchens, joinery and hardware firm, Howdens, who made a pledge of £79,000 of their levy, specifically to support construction apprenticeships in Oxfordshire, to fund Dom’s apprenticeship training. Emma Leech, Howdens’ Early Careers Manager said of the relationship: “Howdens is founded on the principle of being worthwhile for all concerned. We are committed to helping create opportunities for people to learn new skills in our industry, which is why we have partnered with OxLEP to use our levy transfers to fund apprenticeships in a variety of trades.”

Being matched with Howdens and receiving this pledge with the support of Leah and OxLEP Skills was a straightforward process for us and we would encourage other SMEs to do the same. It required very little effort from our side but the benefit is huge! By taking advantage of Howdens generous pledge, we are not only able to provide valuable experience and learning opportunities for our degree apprentice, but we are also contributing to the growth and development of the construction industry in Oxfordshire. This collaborative approach ensures that we are addressing the skills shortage in our sector while also supporting the local community and economy.

At LCMB, we believe in the power of apprenticeships to bridge the skills gap and drive innovation in the FM and construction sector. We strongly urge other Oxfordshire SMEs to get in touch with OxLEP Skills to explore the apprenticeship levy transfer scheme and take advantage of the opportunity to nurture talent, support local skills development and contribute to the overall growth and success of their industry.

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

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

‘Any businesses that are thinking about pledging apprenticeship levy, speak to OxLEP Skills and you’ll be surprised how easy it is! With their support and a 15 minute Teams call, the pledge was live on the system!’

Award-winning 5-star housebuilder The Hill Group are one of a growing number of employers to pledge some of their apprenticeship levy to fund training and assessment for smaller businesses in Oxfordshire through OxLEP Skills’ Social Contract Programme.

Siân Rebourg, Head of Social Value at Hill, was surprised how straightforward making a pledge was. She said: “As platinum members of the 5% club, Hill is committed to supporting new entrants into the industry and recognises the importance of apprenticeships and earn as you learn programmes. We want to support our supply chain and other SME companies in recruiting talent into their businesses through pledging our unspent levy but weren’t sure how to do this.”

“With the support of OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisor Nikki Cooper and a 15 minute Teams call, the pledge was live on the system – it was really straightforward and Nikki explained every step. It’s great that we can pledge our levy for the skills needed to keep moving our industry forward. And to see those in the communities that we work in gaining the right skills to have successful careers within our field. Any businesses that are thinking about pledging, speak to OxLEP Skills and you’ll be surprised how easy it is!”

With support from Nikki, Hill has pledged £70,277 and specified that the funds are to be used to support apprenticeships in construction. This has already paid for training for three Level 2 Carpentry Apprentices.

Hill is one of three construction partners working on-site delivering Oxford North, a new innovation district for the city, which will deliver one million sq ft of labs and workspaces, 480 new homes, hotel, nursery, amenities, three new public parks and significant investment in travelling around sustainably.

Victoria Collett, Development Director, Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, said: “We are delighted that Hill’s apprenticeship levy has been shared in Oxfordshire to support the local supply chain – and such a significant amount too.”

“Our project is a significant and intended stimulant for the local economy and employment market. We are working with Oxford City Council and OxLEP to create aspiration and opportunity for local people in various ways, one of which is unlocking levy funding to support apprentices learning locally. Thank you Hill and OxLEP and to Storey Consulting, our social value consultant who helped to make this happen.”

To date, the Social Contract Programme has generated over £2.3M in apprenticeship levy funds for Oxfordshire, with more than £230,000 supporting construction apprenticeships. Levy transfers have so far supported 28 construction apprenticeships with local SMEs, including:

• Level 7 Chartered Town Planner
• Level 6 Building Service Design Engineer
• Level 4 Construction Site Supervisor
• Level 3 Advanced Carpentry and Joinery
• Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery
• Level 3 Plumbing and domestic Heating Technician
• Level 2 Bricklayer
• Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery

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

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

Richardsons Chartered Accountants has leveraged the OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme to significantly enhance their employee training and development programs. This case study explores the impact of the apprenticeship scheme and levy transfer on the firm and its staff, highlighting the benefits and transformations experienced as a result.

Background

Thame and Oxford-based chartered accountants, Richardsons, is ICAEW accredited and was established over 30 years ago. They provide specialist accounting advice for small and medium companies, as well as large corporates and individuals.

With a team of 40, Richardsons pride themselves on their first-class customer service, which has enabled them to form a close relationship with many clients, built on trust. As a result, over 60% of their new clients have been generated from existing client recommendations.

Through OxLEP’s Social Contract Programme, funded by the Contain Outbreak Management Fund through Oxfordshire County Council, OxLEP Skills provide expert, impartial advice to help employers unlock and access the apprenticeship levy. Richardsons Chartered Accountants recognised the opportunity presented by the levy to enhance their employee training and development through apprenticeships.

Richardsons have used apprenticeships in the past, with huge success, as most of their current management team are former apprentices. This is a great motivator for Richardsons current apprentices as they have promotional goals to work towards and can visualise a long-lasting career within the company.

Implementation

Alison Richardson, Managing Partner at Richardsons, first heard about 100% funded courses through the OxLEP Skills levy transfer programme at an event hosted by Richardsons. Sebastian Johnson, who was Head of Innovation and Inward Investment at OxLEP, was impressed at how many apprentices Richardsons had at the time (approximately 15 apprentices) and explained the support that OxLEP Skills could provide, including the levy transfer scheme. Since then, Richardsons has worked closely with OxLEP Skills Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Advisor, Nikki Cooper.

Richardsons’ Client Director, Jack Armstrong notes how easy it was to apply for funding via the OxLEP Skills levy transfer programme. He said: “OxLEP Skills have been incredibly helpful with the transfer. Nikki Cooper, in particular, has been fantastic with facilitating the transfer.”

Although Richardsons invests in keeping its employees’ knowledge up to date via specialist courses in relation to staff continuous professional development requirements with professional bodies such as ICAEW, CIMA and AAT, benefitting from the levy means that a wider range of staff can attend more specialist courses which helps to develop the overall skill level of the team and improving collaboration.

Key findings

The OxLEP Skills apprenticeship scheme and levy transfer have had a significant positive impact on Richardsons Chartered Accountants, demonstrated by the following outcomes:

Certainty and assurance: the ability to secure funding through the levy transfer provides the firm with certainty in planning and executing staff training programs. This assurance means that employees consistently receive top-tier training from esteemed training providers.

Benefits beyond cost savings: while the financial advantages are clear, the apprenticeship scheme has introduced additional benefits, including heightened awareness of developmental areas within the firm. This holistic approach to staff development has fostered a conducive learning environment.

Essential role in staff development: training facilitated by the apprenticeship levy has become a critical component of the firm’s employee development strategy. The quality and effectiveness of the training make it an indispensable aspect of nurturing talent.

Recruitment and retention: the ability to advertise substantial training as part of a role at Richardsons has had a positive impact on recruitment rates at the company. Not only has it helped with hiring but with staff retention too, helping to underpin staff loyalty and meaning staff turn over at the company is at an all time low.

Rachel Walker, a current apprentice at Richardsons, shares her personal experience: “Joining Richardsons and choosing to complete an apprenticeship is the best decision I have ever made. Having come out of university with an undergraduate and master’s degree I went straight into a career related to my degree and found out it wasn’t for me. I found it very lonely and not very challenging. That’s why I decided to change my career plan completely and interviewed at Richardsons for a trainee role. I haven’t looked back since, and I now enjoy going to work every day. Richardsons have been so supportive in aiding my learning and development. Everyone is so friendly and want you to be able to achieve your very best.

I am currently two years into my ACA apprenticeship with just over 18 months to go. As part of my apprenticeship, I complete my studies at Reed Business School in the Cotswolds. Reed Business School is a residential college, so whenever I have a course, I get to stay there with all meals provided. This is great for just being able to immerse yourself in your studies without any outside distractions. The tutors are all very supportive and are willing to go out of their way to help you.

I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone straight out of school, university or even anyone looking for a career change. It’s great way to learn new skills and gain experience whilst earning a salary.”

Future training needs

Jack Armstrong explains that good quality candidates will always be required to join the growing business. Without the levy transfer programme, SMEs usually pay 5% of the overall cost of staff training. Jack states that good quality training is essential for Richardsons staff members so if the levy transfer was not available, it would become an essential cost to the firm.

The success experienced by Richardsons Chartered Accountants through the apprenticeship levy has led them to recommend the OxLEP Skills team and the OxLEP Skills levy transfer scheme to other employers across Oxfordshire, underscoring the value it adds to businesses.

Conclusion

Richardsons Chartered Accountants’ strategic use of the OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy scheme has not only provided financial benefits but has also enriched the professional development of their staff. The case of Rachel Walker illustrates the transformative power of apprenticeships, offering a pathway to a rewarding career.

Through quality training, support and a diverse range of experiences, Richardsons fosters an environment where employees thrive. Their story serves as a shining example for other Oxfordshire SMEs considering getting involved with the apprenticeship levy programme to advance their workforce development initiatives.

Hosted by Oxfordshire Careers Hub, Careers Fest is the region’s most anticipated and exciting careers event. It will take place on 20-21 March at The Kassam Stadium, with a ‘twilight’ session for parents and careers on 20 March from 16:30-19:30.

We’re delighted to introduce Morgan Sindall Construction as a headline sponsor of Careers Fest 2024. Their generous support has helped to fund transport costs for schools and colleges visiting Careers Fest during the day, enabling more students to attend.

Morgan Sindall Construction is part of Morgan Sindall Group plc, nine businesses who specialise in all elements of the built environment – construction, infrastructure, fit out, property services, housing, regeneration and development.

Their purpose is to create inspiring places that enhance the communities in which we all live, learn, work, play, care and protect. 

With apprenticeship and trainee schemes available to all regardless of age, their programmes are designed to give you the best start in your role.

Visit the Morgan Sindall Construction stand at Careers Fest to discover dynamic opportunities in construction and explore a multitude of career paths, uncover diverse construction industry roles and pathways and learn about alternative job roles beyond on-site work. Their knowledgeable team will be available to address any questions and help you get started on your construction career journey.

Visit Careers Fest

Careers Fest offers the opportunity to meet a range of employers, further education colleges, universities and training providers, with around 75 exhibitors offering information, advice and guidance on future pathways and careers from a varied range of sectors.

Register to attend the session for parents/carers at  https://careersfest2024twilightsession.eventbrite.co.uk

Follow us on social media @OxLEPSkills for all the latest on Careers Fest and join in the conversation using the hashtag #CF2024.

Hosted by Oxfordshire Careers Hub, Careers Fest is the region’s most anticipated and exciting careers event. It will take place on 20-21 March at The Kassam Stadium, with a ‘twilight’ session for parents and careers on 20 March from 16:30-19:30.

We’re delighted to introduce the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) as a headline sponsor of Careers Fest 2024. Their generous support has helped to fund transport costs for schools and colleges visiting Careers Fest during the day, enabling more students to attend.

STFC is one of Europe’s largest research organisations, trusted to support, enable, and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. At STFC, research driven by practical applications meets research driven by curiosity to create a world-leading hub of scientific and engineering excellence.

STFC is a place where curious minds push the boundaries in engineering, technology and science. They are recruiting apprentices on their gold accredited apprenticeship scheme, in roles as diverse as engineering, electrical, computing, project management, IT and business administration.

Whatever your role, whether technical or professional support, you’ll have training and support from experts in their fields working on amazing projects. STFC’s dedicated apprenticeship team will support you every step of the way, helping you to achieve the goals you already have – and those you have yet to discover!

Find out more about careers with STFC at https://stfccareers.co.uk

Visit Careers Fest

Careers Fest offers the opportunity to meet a range of employers, further education colleges, universities and training providers, with around 75 exhibitors offering information, advice and guidance on future pathways and careers from a varied range of sectors.

Register to attend the session for parents/carers at  https://careersfest2024twilightsession.eventbrite.co.uk

Follow us on social media @OxLEPSkills for all the latest on Careers Fest and join in the conversation using the hashtag #CF2024.

Hosted by Oxfordshire Careers Hub, Careers Fest is the region’s most anticipated and exciting careers event. It will take place on 20-21 March at The Kassam Stadium, with a ‘twilight’ session for parents and careers on 20 March from 16:30-19:30.

We’re delighted to introduce Howden Insurance as a headline sponsor of Careers Fest 2024. Their generous support has helped to fund transport costs for schools and colleges visiting Careers Fest during the day, enabling more students to attend.

Howden Insurance is a global insurance and risk advisor and a home for 16,000 talented professionals in the fields of broking, risk management, underwriting and reinsurance. Howden is the 5th largest employee-owned business in the UK and one of the largest insurance groups in the world.

The team at Howden Insurance understand that choosing the right career path is never easy. Whether you are leaving education or are new to the world of work, making the right decision for you is important.

At Howden Insurance, the focus on being a people-first business with a unique culture has always been at the heart of what they do. If you enjoy talking to new people, solving problems and are keen to make a difference, visit their stand and the friendly team will show you that your potential in insurance will be anything but boring!

Visit Careers Fest

Careers Fest offers the opportunity to meet a range of employers, further education colleges, universities and training providers, with around 75 exhibitors offering information, advice and guidance on future pathways and careers from a varied range of sectors.

Register to attend the session for parents/carers at  https://careersfest2024twilightsession.eventbrite.co.uk

Follow us on social media @OxLEPSkills for all the latest on Careers Fest and join in the conversation using the hashtag #CF2024.