Issue - meetings

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder APPROVED the Council’s 4 year Apprenticeship Strategy.

Please note that this decision was first published on Thursday 22 June and so the deadline for call-in is Thursday 29 June at 5pm.

For the Portfolio Holder to consider the Council's strategy for Apprenticeships over the next four years, in line with the Government's Apprenticeship scheme

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder:

(a)          Received and noted a report setting out details of the Government’s new Apprentice Scheme and apprenticeship levy; and

(b)          Approved the Council’s 4 year Apprenticeship Strategy.

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder received a report which set out details of the Government’s new Apprenticeship Scheme and considered a draft Apprenticeship Strategy for South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The Apprenticeship Scheme required all employers with at least 250 staff operating in the UK, with an annual pay bill of over £3,000,000 to make an investment in apprenticeships.  This involved payment of an apprenticeship levy equating to 0.5% of their annual pay bill.  The levy would be collected by HM Revenue and Customs monthly and could be accessed by employers through an online digital service account.  Levy funding could be used for direct training and assessment costs for apprentices but could not be used to support apprentice wages.

Employers who paid the levy and were committed to apprenticeship training would be able to access more funds than the amount of levy paid through a ‘top up’ to their Apprentice Digital accounts.  It was not yet clear how this would work but it was anticipated that employers would be able to bid for additional funding based on certain criteria. 

The Government had also set a target for public sector bodies with 250 or more staff to employ an average of at least 2.3% of their workforce as new apprentices over the period 1^st April 2017 to 31^st March 2021.  Apprenticeships could be considered either for new recruits or as part of career development for existing staff.

It was noted that the annual levy payment for South Cambridgeshire District Council was £66,686.  This was based on a 0.5% levy of the Council’s gross salary bill and included a £15,000 Government allowance.  The apprenticeship target, based on 2.3% of the current headcount (426), equated to a requirement for 11 apprentices to start each year for the next three years.  The Portfolio Holder was invited to consider a draft strategy which set out how South Cambridgeshire District Council would optimise use of its apprenticeship levy contributions and meet the Government’s public sector apprenticeship targets.

The Portfolio Holder raised a number of issues related to partnership working, in particular 3C Shared Services partners.  In response to a question it was noted that it would be difficult to spread costs across partners as the employing body was ultimately responsible for paying the levy. The Council would however endeavour to work with partners to optimise use of the apprenticeship levy and where possible procure training providers.  It would also seek to take advantage of opportunities arising from the Greater Cambridge City Deal skills funding initiatives.  The Council would also work with village colleges to promote opportunities.  The possibility of holding an open day to showcase South Cambridgeshire District Council as a potential employer was suggested.

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder agreed:

(a)          To note the report setting out details of the Government’s new Apprentice Scheme and apprenticeship levy; and

(b)          To approve the Council’s 4 year Apprenticeship Strategy.