Higher and degree-level apprenticeships experienced a huge spike in sign-ups in the month of September, according to data released by the Department for Education. Analysis of commitments made through the online apprenticeship service since May signal that organisations across the country are seeing the apprenticeship levy reforms for what they are – a unique and powerful opportunity to upskill existing staff and instil them with the practical skills to succeed and grow in the modern workplace.
The number of commitments for higher and degree-level programmes totalled 3,880 in September, up 424% from the total of 740 in August. Although these statistics are for all higher and degree apprenticeships, the management programmes are historically the most popular; the two most subscribed higher or degree-level programmes in 2016/17 were the Level 5 for Operations/Departmental Managers and the Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree.
Upskilling existing and newly promoted managers is seen as key to improving productivity in the UK economy, where there is a prevalence of so-called ‘accidental managers’; those who perform well in their role and are given management responsibility (sometimes against their will) without the vital training or personal development that is proven to be necessary for effective people management in the workplace.
Research by the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics found that this issue of ‘accidental managers’ is one of a number of factors that leave us lagging behind our peers. They scored the UK 3.05 out of five for ‘management best practice’, trailing the USA’s 3.31, Japan’s 3.23, Germany’s 3.21 and Canada’s 3.14.
We recently announced that we are one of the first providers in the UK to commence delivery of the new management apprenticeship programmes, and we are strongly placed to be the go-to Main Provider on the RoATP for these programmes, which we have developed using our extensive experience delivering ILM and CMI accredited programmes to professional industry standards.
In response to industry requests, we have also begun the rollout of ‘open’ Management Apprenticeship programmes at Level 3 & 5, designed so any number of delegates from a variety of regional organisations can access an accredited, innovative, levy-funded programme from a trusted provider that completely understands the Government’s reforms from apprenticeship frameworks to standards and is capable and confident in their delivery.
If you have a requirement for maximising your Apprenticeship Levy by placing any number of delegates on a Level 3 or Level 5 Management Apprenticeship programme, please get in touch with us now.
