Future Skills
A skilled workforce is essential for a successful business. As an employer, there are ways of helping you ensure your business has the right people with the right skills now and in the future.
Apprenticeships
From 3 August 2020, employers large and small are being encouraged to take advantage of generous new cash incentives designed to create more high quality apprenticeship opportunities so more people, particularly young people, can kick start an exciting and rewarding career.
Employers who have apprenticeship opportunities up for grabs and who are wiling to take on a redundant apprentice are being urged to sign up to the new service to advertise their vacancies.
Apprenticeships can develop and train people in almost all business types and sectors, at all levels - from GCSE to Masters; for all ages from 16; for both new recruits and existing employees.
An apprenticeship can:
- Reduce staff turnover, by increasing employee satisfaction and loyalty
- Tackle skill shortages
- Attract enthusiastic talent with fresh ideas
- Provide training that’s tailored to the needs and requirements of your business
Banbury and Bicester College - changing business for the better
Activate Learning offers a number of services for employers aimed at ensuring students are work ready when they leave education.
Banbury and Bicester College Knowledge Exchange Programme
Recognising the costs of recruiting and onboarding employees, this scheme invites 175 local businesses to help address the local skills shortages in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths, shaping the education curriculum to ensure young people are work ready.
Oxfordshire Apprenticeships
If you are thinking about taking on a young person to grow talent in your business, then access support through OA.
Apprenticeship Levy
You can get help from the government to pay for apprenticeship training.
The amount you get depends on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy or not. You pay the levy if you’re an employer with a pay bill over £3 million each year.
Engaging with young people in education
Research shows that a young person who has four or more encounters with an employer is 86 per cent less likely to be unemployed or not in education or training. Similarly they can earn up to 18 per cent more during their career.
The Give an Hour campaign is a great way to give something back to your community and ignite your team at the same time. It helps give young people in your area the skills and knowledge that they need while also potentially finding new recruits for your business. By becoming involved, you can shape the future leaders in your community.
It might feel like an hour is too short to have a real impact, but we know from experience that an hour can create new perspectives and inspire new ideas. You could speak to a class about your sector, play a role in a business competition, carry out a mock interview or support a CV workshop. Even these short activities make a big difference and can change a young person’s life.
OxLEP Skills works with 50 state secondary schools and colleges across Oxfordshire, including special schools and a pupil referral unit. To speak to one of the Skills Team on how your business can be supported to volunteer in schools and colleges, please contact them by email.