Professional apprenticeship qualifications can be a fantastic route into and through any profession, not least the payroll profession. This is because they are built by members of the profession specifically for the profession.
The UK Government has made two recent announcements on how apprentices will be supported through this time.
Plan for Jobs
On 08 July 2020, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced his ‘Plan for Jobs’ in the summer statement. With regard apprenticeships, the ‘plan’ is to incentivise employers as follows:
For apprentices hired between 01 August and 31 January 2021:
- £2,000 will be paid to employers for each new apprentice hired under the age of 25
- £1,500 will be paid to employers for each new apprentice hired aged 25 and over
This payment is in addition to the current £1,000 payment that the UK Government already provides employers for recruiting:
- New apprentices between 16 and 18 or
- Apprentices between 19 and 24 years old where there is an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan in place (provided by their local authority) or has been in the care of their local authority
On 30 July 2020, the UK Government published the below documents detailing guidance for apprenticeships starting between 01 August 2020 and 31 July 2021.:
- Funding rules and guidance for employers
- Funding rules and guidance for employer-providers
- Funding rules and guidance for main providers
Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices
Unfortunately many organisations will be faced with the prospect of having to make redundancies in the coming months. Recognising the vital role that apprentices and apprenticeships play, The UK Government has established a number of helpful support services if apprentices are made redundant:
- The Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices (ReSSA) on 0800 015 400 to access a range of services such as free advice, searching for new opportunities and accessing local and national support services
- Guidance for apprentices affected by redundancy, which has advice on finding alternative employment and information about financial support
- The new vacancy sharing service where redundant apprentices can seek employers interested in hiring them
- The new service for employers where they can advertise their apprenticeship vacancies, thereby hiring an apprentice who has been made redundant to ‘boost your organisation by filling key skill gaps with experienced apprentices’