Apprenticeships Levy: be prepared for the training revolution!

Lancashire’s business leaders have been urged to get themselves fully prepared in order to take advantage of massive changes to the way training and apprenticeships are funded.

Planning will be vital but experts also stress that some of the detail about the new levy scheme has yet to be confirmed by the government.

They have been organised by Lancashire Business View in partnership with the Lancashire Work Based Learning Executive Forum, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and The Lancashire Colleges, to help businesses understand what it means for them.

The event also heard that many UK businesses were still in the dark about the levy, with recent research by British Chambers of Commerce highlighting the fact 39 per cent of firms still had no understanding of it.

She said: “It’s about how you can take advantage and look at this as an opportunity to really expand your apprenticeship programme or, if you are starting from the beginning to really develop high quality and exciting apprenticeship programmes.”

These businesses will pay 0.5 per cent of their payroll costs to the HMRC on a monthly basis, after an initial £15,000 allowance.

Businesses that don’t spend their levy within 18 months will lose the cash form their account as it goes into a central pot.

Paula asked businesses to consider a series of questions, including: “Are your finance teams engaged with this? Are Higher Apprenticeships an opportunity?”

  • Develop a people plan
  • Review current training programmes and where occupations can be mapped to apprenticeships
  • Decide which programmes to deliver
  • Decide how to deliver an apprenticeship programme
  • Ensure your readiness to deliver

Karl Patterson, group HR manager, The Senator Group"We are struggling to see any benefits currently. Whatever way you cut and dice it, £135,000 is what we are going to have to pay out next year. "When it comes to 2017 budgeting it is how we sell this to the business; how are we going to spend £135,000 on apprentices? "If we see we can take strategic decisions about areas where we can bring in apprentices, at what level, and how we balance that with our spend - and can see the cost benefits there - that will help us."

Julie Dix, people development and training coordinator, Silentnight

"The challenge for me is finding out how much each apprentice framework or standard is going to cost, how long that is going to be delivered over and how much money is going to be coming out of our levy pot."

"There is not enough access to information right at the moment. We’ve already gone through the process we do every year of looking at where the skills gaps are and where we need to bring in an apprentice. That side is already in place."

Dr Michele Lawty-Jones, director Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub

"We have got 73,000 employees in Lancashire in manufacturing and engineering. Looking at some projections, from 2012-2022 around 21,000 are due to retire.

"Having the end assessment carried out by a third party is really useful to ensure we are driving up quality and making a difference in terms of the individual undertaking the apprenticeship."

John Cramphorn, JTL North West regional manager, Lancashire Work Based Learning Executive Forum

"Apprenticeships is a successful brand; it has worked for many, many years. It has been developed further by employers using your standards. You are in the driving seat. Standards are being driven by employers.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Lancashire Business View

Latest news

1

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University Keir Starmer meets Indian PM and included Prof Simon Guy Lancaster University. Pic Simon Dawson

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University

09 Oct 2025

2

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Best Events and Talented students on Lancashire Tourism Awards finalist list

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026

09 Oct 2025

3

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards Andrew Dewhurst with the award win

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards

09 Oct 2025

4

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool Jason Davenport PHX Training

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool

09 Oct 2025

5

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin