Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of apprenticeship levy networks in improving small businesses’ access to apprenticeship levy funding.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The apprenticeship levy supports employers of all sizes to invest in high-quality apprenticeship training. Transfers are a great way for large employers to use their levy funds to support apprenticeships in other businesses, including small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), flexi-job apprenticeship agencies and charities, to help meet local or sector skills needs. This could include businesses in their supply chain.
The department continues to promote the benefits of levy transfers and has increased the proportion of their funds that levy-paying employers can transfer to support more apprenticeships in other businesses from 25% to 50%. This will help SMEs hire more apprentices by reducing their costs and enabling them to benefit from the support and experience that larger employers can provide.
Hundreds of large levy-paying employers have already taken advantage of the opportunity to transfer their unused levy funds to other businesses. Since September 2021 over 550 employers, including ASDA, HomeServe, and BT Group, have pledged to transfer over £37 million to support apprenticeships in businesses of all sizes. It is also encouraging to see regional schemes to support local businesses through transfers, including in the West Midlands.
SMEs can also access funding directly from the apprenticeships budget. The department has increased investment in the apprenticeships system in England to over £2.7 billion this financial year to support employers of all sizes, including SMEs. In addition, last year, the department removed the limit to the number of apprentices that SMEs can take on, making it easier for them to grow their businesses. This has already benefitted almost 350 SMEs. The department also now fully funds the costs of training and assessment for new apprentices aged 16 to 21 in small businesses.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) support and (b) promote regional levy networks.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The apprenticeship levy supports employers of all sizes to invest in high-quality apprenticeship training. Transfers are a great way for large employers to use their levy funds to support apprenticeships in other businesses, including small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), flexi-job apprenticeship agencies and charities, to help meet local or sector skills needs. This could include businesses in their supply chain.
The department continues to promote the benefits of levy transfers and has increased the proportion of their funds that levy-paying employers can transfer to support more apprenticeships in other businesses from 25% to 50%. This will help SMEs hire more apprentices by reducing their costs and enabling them to benefit from the support and experience that larger employers can provide.
Hundreds of large levy-paying employers have already taken advantage of the opportunity to transfer their unused levy funds to other businesses. Since September 2021 over 550 employers, including ASDA, HomeServe, and BT Group, have pledged to transfer over £37 million to support apprenticeships in businesses of all sizes. It is also encouraging to see regional schemes to support local businesses through transfers, including in the West Midlands.
SMEs can also access funding directly from the apprenticeships budget. The department has increased investment in the apprenticeships system in England to over £2.7 billion this financial year to support employers of all sizes, including SMEs. In addition, last year, the department removed the limit to the number of apprentices that SMEs can take on, making it easier for them to grow their businesses. This has already benefitted almost 350 SMEs. The department also now fully funds the costs of training and assessment for new apprentices aged 16 to 21 in small businesses.
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Inquiry: High streets in towns and small citiesFound: challenges to find experienced staff and the fact that recruitment intentions for both staff and apprentices
Mar. 27 2024
Source Page: Green claims: CMA secures landmark changes from ASOS, Boohoo and AsdaFound: Exceptional items are shown in more detail in note 1 of the financial statements on page 113.TAXATION
Mar. 27 2024
Source Page: Green claims: CMA secures landmark changes from ASOS, Boohoo and AsdaFound: for data, finance, and leadership and management. 1 Source: LinkedIn Global Talent Trends, May 2023.Apprentices
Mentions:
1: Greer, Ross (Green - West Scotland) In the absence of a coherent, devolved set of powers over business taxation, that would be an effective - Speech Link
2: Kerr, Stephen (Con - Central Scotland) I also remind him that businesses contribute to the cost of their apprentices and of others who receive - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Rennie, Willie (LD - North East Fife) The taxation policy has been incredibly volatile. - Speech Link
2: Rennie, Willie (LD - North East Fife) regulation measures need to be smart and fit for purpose.Finally, we need to have some certainty about taxation - Speech Link
3: Whittle, Brian (Con - South Scotland) the company could not grow at the rate that it should and could because it could not recruit enough apprentices - Speech Link
4: Smith, Liz (Con - Mid Scotland and Fife) As well as taxation, another key debate around economic growth is about meaningful public sector reform - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: James Wild (Con - North West Norfolk) much of the thicket that was introduced by the Labour party when it used regulation as a proxy for taxation - Speech Link
2: Valerie Vaz (Lab - Walsall South) people the right advice to prevent their becoming homeless, as well as giving opportunities for legal apprentices - Speech Link
3: Beth Winter (Lab - Cynon Valley) That includes ending the unequal and unfair low levels of taxation on wealth, which is surely now inevitable - Speech Link
4: Bim Afolami (Con - Hitchin and Harpenden) It is our long-term ambition to do so and to eliminate this double taxation on work. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Lucy Frazer (Con - South East Cambridgeshire) It is not right that they have double taxation. - Speech Link
2: Philip Dunne (Con - Ludlow) It sets a clear direction of travel for lower rates of personal taxation in the future under the next - Speech Link
3: Cherilyn Mackrory (Con - Truro and Falmouth) in the United Kingdom.All emerging industries rely heavily on apprenticeships and are getting their apprentices - Speech Link
4: Peter Gibson (Con - Darlington) A longer-term goal of a single tax on income, ending double taxation, is one that I fully support.Like - Speech Link
5: Chris Bryant (Lab - Rhondda) Most of the changes to taxation and to child benefits will benefit people who earn far, far more than - Speech Link
Oral Evidence Mar. 06 2024
Committee: Work and Pensions Committee (Department: Department for Work and Pensions)Found: That is a negative rate of taxation that anyone would say was unsustainable.