It’s not every day that you need to wear sunglasses to a work event, but shades and sun-cream were the order of the day at the recent launch of Greater Manchester’s Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (GM AGE).
The launch, which took place on the open-air rooftop pitch at Trafford’s prestigious Hotel Football, brought together employers, training providers and local authorities from across Greater Manchester to hear about a new grant available to local employers who are considering taking on an apprentice.
Delegates heard from Cllr Sean Anstee, portfolio lead for Skills and Employment issues for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), about the importance of skills to Greater Manchester’s economy, and the role that apprentices can play in boosting productivity for organisations and for the area.
Nic Hutchins, Head of Youth Initiatives at New Economy, which is managing the grant on behalf of the GMCA, said that grants of between £1,500 and £3,500 are available, subject to eligibility and circumstances. “We have around £7 million available through this devolved scheme. This is a really exciting opportunity for employers in Greater Manchester who want to get involved in apprenticeships, particularly those who want to support their apprentices’ progression to higher levels.”
Delegates also heard a powerful account from Bill Quinn, proprietor of Stockport-based ToneTech Luthier Supplies, about his experiences of taking on a 16 year old apprentice in Business Administration within his company. The experience wasn’t without its challenges but Bill told fellow employers that it had been well worth the effort and that, as a one-man microbusiness, he believes no organisation is too small to reap the rewards of employing an apprentice.
Bill said: “When I took on an apprentice I hadn’t expected some of the challenges – or the paperwork – that came with the territory, and initially I was working even longer hours to train and support her. But within a few months that young lady was virtually running my business, coming back from her training and suggesting changes which made real improvements to the way we worked. That helped to free up my time to concentrate on growing the company – and I was finally able to take a holiday!”
Bill told delegates that following completion of the intermediate apprenticeship, he has since supported his star employee’s progression to the next level with a more specialised Advanced Apprenticeship in Business Enterprise.
“So was it worth it?” Bill asked. “This is my message to any employer considering taking on an apprentice: in around 40 years of my working life so far, this has been one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done.”
Cllr Sean Anstee said: “This initiative is an important early step in the devolution of powers for Greater Manchester. The devolution agreement recognised Greater Manchester’s desire to shape provision within the Manchester city region to deliver the skills needs of its economy. Building on feedback from key stakeholders, we have adapted the national apprenticeship grant to provide support to a wider range of businesses and to reward companies who offer progression opportunities and higher level apprenticeships.”
The GM AGE grant is available to eligible employers in Greater Manchester which employ fewer than 250 staff and which haven’t employed an apprentice at any time within the preceding 12 months. There is also a range of further incentives to encourage progression from traineeships to apprenticeships, and from intermediate to advanced and higher level apprenticeships. In addition, top-ups are available to support the roll-out of new employer-developed ‘Trailblazer’ apprenticeships, which aim to transform standards and better meet employers’ needs.
GM AGE is one of the first examples of Greater Manchester’s ground-breaking Devolution deal in action, with the grant scheme being tailored locally to meet the needs of our employers and young people rather than following the national criteria.
Employers can apply for GM AGE until the end of December, and a lot of interest has already been shown, with around 450 grants already allocated for new apprentices. Grants are being allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so employers who are interested in the scheme should enquire as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Employers who are already working with an apprenticeship training provider and who want to learn more about GM AGE can speak to their provider or visit New Economy’s website for further details, including the eligibility criteria click here
Employers who are not currently working with a training provider can visit the GM Skills Gateway Service or the National Apprenticeship Service for more information about employing an apprentice in Greater Manchester click here/
