County Council takes innovative approach to new levy transfer

Warwickshire County Council is taking an innovative approach to closing the skills gap in social care with a new initiative utilising the new levy transfer option introduced by the Government in April.

Under the regulations, employers such as the county council, that pay the apprenticeship levy, have the option to transfer up to 10% of their annual levy funds to other organisations which are not levy payers.

This provides extra flexibility in how the levy is used to help close skills gaps. Levy-paying organisations can use funds to invest in helping their supply chain or nominated business to introduce new apprentices of upskill existing staff.

There is currently a restriction to transfer funds to only one company, but rather than select one business, the county council has chosen to invite care-providers to present business projects that will demonstrate the effectiveness of apprenticeships for their business development.

The successful company will have access to fully-funded qualifications for its apprentices, as well as ongoing business support and guidance from the county council. The funding and business support will assist the company to plan for the future and improve its business outcomes, as well as providing training and job opportunities to local people from a variety of backgrounds.

The county council will also ensure that local training-providers are able to compete for the work to deliver the training for the new apprenticeships.

Warwickshire County Council leader, and portfolio holder for economic growth, Cllr Izzi Seccombe said: “We’ve chosen to maximise this opportunity provided by the new regulations, to address the skills gap in the social care sector.

"With an ever-growing demand on services and a decrease in staffing availability, the growing challenges for recruiting to this sector in Warwickshire - and the rest of the country - are well known. This project will lead to a boost of a number of newly skilled workers in the social care sector and we hope will have a significant impact on the lives of our residents.”

Levy Business Support

In recent months the county council's Business Skills Advisor, Fay Winterburn, has heard from many Levy-paying businesses who have spoken of their Levy underspend and how news of the Levy transfer option has left some unsure where to transfer to, if at all.

Fay said: “We are really pleased to be one of the first levy-paying organisations to utilise this opportunity and support a sector in such great need. I would urge any levy-paying organisations to explore all the options. The nominated transfer organisation could be any non-levy paying business you wish to engage with.

“This is such a wonderful opportunity to take a whole new approach with apprenticeship support. For example, is there a local charity that your business would like to help who might benefit from a new administrative or marketing apprentice to build their fundraising profile? Could you call upon your workforce for inspiration on who to support and to present ideas?

“I am very much looking forward to supporting more Levy-paying organisations to also explore their transfer opportunities and helping other businesses to develop.”

* If you are a Levy paying business and would benefit from Levy Transfer support, please contact Fay at Faywinterburn@warwickshire.gov.uk

* To see the full range of business support available from Warwickshire County Council, please visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/business