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Apprenticeships for business: connect with our team experts

Talk to us about your specific business needs. 

Each of our apprenticeships are tailored to fit the requirements of both learners and their employers and HRUC supports you from enrolment through to the end point assessment.

Unlock the best of both worlds, leveraging the vast resources and support of an award-winning college group, whilst benefiting from the innovate, agile mindset of a training provider. Our consultative approach frees you up to focus on what you do best.

To find out more fill in the form below or contact us to start building your business future:

  • Meet some of the team
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  • 01895 853 780 

EMPLOYER ENQUIRY FORM

Our full apprenticeship service: what do we offer?

  • What range of apprenticeships do you offer?

    We provide a wide range of apprenticeships, chosen specifically to suit different industries and professions. This range covers:

    • Professional Services
    • Engineering
    • Hospitality
    • Healthcare and many more sectors.

    Each of the above areas are managed and delivered by a dedicated team with vast knowledge and experience that are aligned with the apprenticeships they deliver.

  • What solutions do you offer to develop my future workforce?

    We work with businesses to provide award-winning high-quality apprenticeship training and tailor made recruitment services that make a lasting difference to your business. This is achieved through the combined wealth of experience and strengths of Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges.

  • What support do you provide as part of your apprenticehip service?

    As your provider, we will support you with:

    • A dedicated assessor on programme
    • Funding advice
    • A free recruitment service covering advertising, sourcing, screening and shortlisting
    • Delivery of high-quality apprenticeship programmes
    • Experienced in delivering high-quality apprenticeship programmes
    • Access to high-quality candidates through active talent pool management
    • Connecting you with the talent to help you fill your priority growth needs
    • Opportunities to collaborate together
    • An integrated approach that provides you with a tailored solution.

Training and Development

  • Do you offer training and development courses?

    Yes! 

    If an apprenticeship isn’t the right fit for your business, HRUC can offer tailored commercial training programmes designed around your organisation’s needs, helping you develop your people, close skills gaps and improve performance.

    Our expert-led training covers Leadership and Management, with flexible programmes tailored to your business objectives, workforce and budget.

    We offer a free, no-obligation on-site visit to understand your needs and develop a bespoke training package that:

    • Targets skills gaps and develops the knowledge and capabilities of your team
    • Fits your budget, with support to explore available funding opportunities where applicable
    • Works around your business, with training arranged to suit your operational needs
    • Delivers measurable impact, with evaluation to assess effectiveness and ensure your objectives are met.


    From developing confident managers to strengthening leadership capability, HRUC provides flexible commercial training solutions to help your people, and your business, thrive.

  • Why choose HRUC for your business?

    Training that works for your people, your business and your goals.

    At HRUC, we understand that every organisation is different. That’s why we create flexible, tailored training solutions designed to develop your people, strengthen leadership and management skills, and deliver real value to your business.

  • Why work with us?

    • Tailored to you: Choose the delivery style, format and duration that best suit your business needs
    • Expert trainers: We match your organisation with experienced trainers who understand your objectives and can make learning relevant and practical
    • Flexible delivery: Training designed to fit around your business operations and minimise disruption
    • Ongoing support: Benefit from a dedicated Account Manager who will support you throughout your training journey
    • Measurable impact: Receive feedback and evaluate progress to help ensure your investment in staff development delivers results.


    Investing in your people is investing in your future. Whether you want to develop new managers, strengthen leadership capability or build a culture of continuous improvement, HRUC can help you make it happen.

    Let’s talk about what your business needs.

    Contact our Business Development Team for a free, no-obligation conversation about your training requirements: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP)

A Sector-based work academy programme, or SWAP, is a collaboration between a training provider, local Jobcentres and an employer.

The programme can support employers to create a skilled workforce for their business. It is designed to help prepare those receiving unemployment benefits to apply for jobs in a different area of work. Placements are designed to help meet employers immediate and future recruitment needs, as well as to recruit a workforce with the right skills to sustain and grow their business.

Further information for job seekers can be found here.

  • Benefits for employers

    • SWAPs offer a flexible programme that can be tailored to meet your recruitment needs
    • Recruit staff with the right training and skills from the outset, developed through fully-funded pre-employment training
    • An opportunity to provide work experience placements for potential employees to ensure they are suited to your type of role and your company
    • Reduces the risks within the overall process of recruiting new employees
    • An opportunity to show how like-minded businesses are working together to meet their social responsibilities.

  • How can employers get involved?

    • Contact us to discuss how a SWAP would benefit your company
    • We will help you to liaise with the Jobcentre plus employer team
    • Agree to a work experience placement for candidates - the placements are free
    • Carry out an interview for a job opportunity for each candidate on the programme.


    To find out more contact Giles Strachan on: 01895 853653 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Apprenticeship Levy

Confused about Apprenticeship Levy? Read below for further information on questions employers usually ask us or contact our team.

  • What is the Apprenticeship Levy?

    The government has announced Apprenticeship Levy on employers with an annual wage bill of more than £3 million to increase their contribution towards staff training. By allocating a specific amount of funds that can only be spent on apprentices, the government is encouraging businesses to make use of the money they essentially contributed as part of the levy.  In order to make some of that money back, they will have to make use of it by training apprentices.

  • Who will need to pay the apprenticeship levy?

    Employers in the UK that have a wage bill of over £3 million will need to pay the levy. The levy applies to all industries in the private and public sectors.

  • What counts as the ‘pay bill’?

    The pay bill is defined as ‘total employee earnings’ of every employee per year. It is calculated based on the total amount of earnings subject to Class 1 secondary NICs. Earnings include any remuneration or profit coming from employment such as wages, bonuses, commissions, and pension contributions that you pay on NICs on.

  • How is the ‘LEVY’ calculated?

    The levy is at a rate of 0.5% of the pay bill.

    Every employer is given a £15,000 annual allowance, which will be dispersed monthly. This allowance is easiest explained with an example:

    Example One: An employer with an annual pay bill of £2,000,000

    Levy sum: 0.5% x £2,000,000 = £10,000 = £0 annual levy payment (the total amount of the levy sum is less than the £15,000 allowance)

    Example Two: An employer with a pay bill of £5,000,000

    Levy sum: 0.5% x £5,000,000 = £25,000 (Minus levy allowance of £15,000) = £10,000 levy to pay annually

    NB:There will be a connected person’s rule so employers who operate multiple payrolls will only be able to claim their £15,000 allowance once.

  • How to calculate ‘levy allowance’?

    The levy allowance will operate monthly, accumulating throughout the year.

    Monthly Levy Allowance: £1,250

    Example:
    Employer with Levy liability in month 1 of £1,000

    Monthly Levy Allowance:
    £1,000 - £1,250 = (£250)

    £250 will be carried forward to the next month and the employer would not be liable to pay the levy in month 1, therefore making the levy allowance for month 2 at £1,500.

  • How will the government collect the levy?

    The levy is collected through the employers Pay as You Earn (PAYE) Scheme and is payable alongside income tax and national insurance.

  • What can I spend levy funds on?

    Funds in your digital account can only be used towards the costs of apprenticeship training and end point assessment. This must be with an approved training provider and assessment organisation.

    Funds can’t be used on other costs associated with apprentices or wider training effort, e.g. wages, statutory licences to practise, travel and subsidiary costs, managerial costs, traineeships, work placement programmes or the cost of setting up an apprenticeship programme.

  • How do I access my levy fund?

    You can access your funds through a new online Apprenticeship Service account. Employers will need to register to create an account, and link it to their PAYE schemes. They will be able to see funds appear in their digital account monthly and will be able to use this to pay for training and assessment for apprentices in England. The service will also help employers find training providers and assessment organisations. Employers are free to choose their training provider (e.g. their local college or other training provider) from those on the Register of Providers and discuss their needs and delivery.

    When you agree to buy apprenticeship training from a particular training provider and the apprenticeship has started, monthly payments will automatically be taken from your digital account and sent to the provider.

    If an employer wants to take on more apprentices than the value that their levy contribution will cover, they will be able to apply for ‘top-up’ payments.

  • How do the top-ups work?
     

    The government will apply a 10% top-up to the funds you have to spend on apprenticeship training in England. It will be given monthly, at the same time the funds enter your digital account. That means for every £1 that enters your digital account to spend in England on apprenticeship training, you get £1.10.

    Funding caps will be set on different standards/ frameworks. For each apprentice an employer takes on, the employer can obtain a voucher up to the value of the cap for that particular apprenticeship standard.

  • Can I use the allowance to offer apprenticeships to both new and existing staff?
     

    Yes, you can recruit new staff of train existing staff for an Apprenticeship, as long as it is relevant to their role or progressing them on to different areas to develop new skills.

  • Will my funds expire if I don’t use them?

    Funds will expire 12 months after they enter your online account if you don’t spend them on apprenticeship training – this will also apply to any top-ups. Your digital account will let you know in good time when any funds are due to expire so that you can arrange to spend them.

  • How should I calculate net costs to my business?

    When calculating net costs to your business of the levy, take account of:

    • The levy allowance of £15,000 per tax year
    • The 10% top-up payments applied monthly
    • NI savings that come into effect from April 2016 related to apprentices under the age of 25
    • Employer incentives for apprentices aged 16-18
    • Funding caps applied to the apprenticeship standards relevant to your apprentice programmes.

  • How can I use the online apprenticeship service?

    Employers can use the online apprenticeship service whether they pay the levy or not. They will help employers to:

    • Select an apprenticeship standard
    • Choose the training provider or providers you want to deliver the training
    • Choose an assessment organisation
    • Post apprenticeship vacancies.


    Employers who pay the levy will also be able to:

    • see the funds available to spend in England
    • set the price agreed with your training provider
    • pay for apprenticeship training and assessment through the digital apprenticeship service

     

  • Companies that don’t pay the apprenticeship levy fund apprenticeships?

    If you don’t pay the levy, you won’t need to use the digital apprenticeship service to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment.

    However, you can access the digital apprenticeship service to choose the training provider, and assessment organisation for your apprenticeship programme using the registers available.

    Employers that don’t pay the levy will be expected to contribute 10% towards the cost of apprenticeship training (where applicable), and Government will pay 90% of the funding available in the band for that apprenticeship.

    You will pay this directly to the provider and you will be able to spread it over the lifetime of the apprenticeship, to a schedule you agree. As both you and the government make a payment, it’s called ‘co-investment’.

    Read the Government guidance in full here