The 5% Club

Join Chris Bradley and myself with RMP to tell you more about the new and still FREE Top Apprenticeship Employers 2025... 😃

🚀 The Apprenticeship Challenge: Rebalancing for Youth Opportunity A recent report from Youth Futures Foundation and CIPD (supported by New Statesman) highlights the trends in the UK apprenticeship system. Whilst traditionally providing a pathway to employment for young people, the is a perception that the system has become skewed toward existing workers and older employees. 📊 Key findings: 🔹 Apprenticeship starts fell by 36% for those aged 19-24 between 2015-16 and 2022-23 🔹 For under-19s, the decline is even steeper at 41% 🔹 £620m was spent on uncompleted apprenticeships in 2021-22 🔹 60% of employers believe apprenticeships should primarily support young people entering the workplace 🔍 Challenges for employers: 🔹 The apprenticeship levy has led many businesses to prioritise existing staff over new entrants 🔹 54% of levy-paying organisations admitted to converting existing training into apprenticeships to reclaim their allowance 🔹 SME participation has collapsed, eroding opportunities for young apprentices 💡 Opportunities & solutions: 🔹 89% of employers support an apprenticeship guarantee for young people up to age 24 🔹 A more flexible skills levy with ring-fenced funding for youth apprenticeships 🔹 Enhanced financial incentives for SMEs hiring young apprentices 🗣️ "Apprenticeships are an impactful pathway to employment – particularly for those most marginalised," note Barry Fletcher and Peter Cheese, chief executives of YFF and CIPD. 🗣️ Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, emphasises how devolution is creating new possibilities: "West Yorkshire is a region where opportunity lives. But decades of centralisation and disempowerment have made it harder for us to join the dots between our young people, our colleges and universities, and our growing businesses." 🗣️ David Hughes of the Association of Colleges adds: "Inspiring people to change is insufficient: incentives are essential." CIPD data reveals employers with strategic skills planning are three times more likely to offer apprenticeships and twice as likely to provide work placements, building stronger talent pipelines through youth investment. #Apprenticeships #YouthEmployment #SkillsDevelopment #UKBusiness #FutureOfWork

🚀 Apprenticeship Success: A Turning Point for UK Employers and Skills Development Announced on 27 March 2025 (covered in @FE Week, https://lnkd.in/eA42w_UA), the apprenticeship achievement rate [in England] has increased to 60.5%, marking a significant improvement compared to recent years. 🔍Key Highlights: 🔹 Achievement rates jumped 6.2 percentage points in 2023-24 🔹 Dropout rates reduced from 44.1% to 38.1% 🔹 College achievement rates increased to 62.4% 🔹 Independent training providers reached 57.7% achievement Ben Rowland, CEO of the AELP (Association of Employment and Learning Providers), noted: "A significant increase in achievement rates is excellent news... Providers learning from each other. Peer support and shared practice flourishing." Insights for Employers 💡: 🔹 Growing talent pipeline with improved completion rates 🔹 Enhanced collaboration between training providers 🔹 Increased confidence in apprenticeship programmes 🔹 Potential for more sustainable workforce development Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith's perspective is clear: "We have made strong progress, but I don't want to stop here. We will continue to press on with these improvements." As we approach the comprehensive spending review, this data signals a promising future for skills investment and workforce training. #SkillsDevelopment #EarnandLearn #Apprenticeships #UKWorkforce #ProfessionalGrowth And some credit must also go to you, Rt Hon Robert Halfon ...

The 5% Club welcomes our newest members FRONTLINE(NORTH WEST) LTD, Lloyd's, MCS Building Services Ltd, Nurture Group, O&P Construction Services Ltd and Reliable Contractors all showing their commitment to earn and learn by joining The Club. Invest in Talent, Invest in The Future

🏛️ Chancellor's Spring Statement: Investing in Britain's Workforce 📊 Not a huge amount to report, but the key highlights from the Spring Statement (26 March 2025) impacting on the Skills System and "Earn & Learn" Schemes: 🏗️ Skills & Infrastructure Investment 🔹 £625 million construction skills package 🔹 Training up to 60,000 skilled workers this Parliament 🔹 Supporting critical infrastructure and housing goals 💼 Employment Support Transformation 🔹 £1 billion annual investment by 2029-30 🔹 Targeting 2.8 million economically inactive individuals 🔹 Reforming Universal Credit to drive workforce participation 📈 Economic Outlook 🔹 Employment expected to grow to 34.8 million by 2029 🔹 Focus on boosting productivity and creating opportunities 🔹 Particular emphasis on youth and skills development 🔹 A strategic approach to addressing skills gaps and economic challenges. #SpringStatement2024 #UKEconomy #SkillsDevelopment #WorkforceGrowth

🚨 [Deadline Alert] Final Week to Enter The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025! 🏆 ⏰ Entries Close: Monday, 31st March at 5pm 📊 Why This Matters: • Showcase your organisation's commitment to apprenticeship excellence • Get ranked in your specific industry sector • Gain exclusive insights and benchmarking feedback • Reach school leavers, parents, and career advisers nationwide 🏅 What You'll Receive: • National recognition in The Sunday Times (The Times) • Sector-specific ranking (e.g., 1st in Hospitality, 3rd in Manufacturing) • Comprehensive entry feedback • Invitation to exclusive apprenticeship workshops 👉 Don't Miss Out: Enter Now at https://lnkd.in/gHwxA8Kb #Apprenticeships #CareerDevelopment #WorkforceTraining #UKEmployers #ProfessionalGrowth High Fliers Research Limited

🌍 Transforming Career Guidance: Global Lessons & Insights 🚀 Just released by Gatsby Charitable Foundation (supported by SQW and International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS)): A groundbreaking report (https://lnkd.in/eQYWFEgW) exploring career guidance systems across seven countries, offering critical lessons for optimising the UK system. Key Takeaways: 💼 Career Guidance is More Than Just Recruitment. The report reveals career guidance as a strategic tool that: 🔹 Matches skills supply and demand 🔹 Supports workforce transitions 🔹 Promotes social equity 🔹 Enhances individual wellbeing 🔍 What Makes a World-Class System? Six critical features stand out: 1️⃣ Strong national leadership 2️⃣ Universal service access 3️⃣ Multi-stakeholder collaboration 4️⃣ Professional practitioners 5️⃣ Diverse delivery channels 6️⃣ Robust labour market intelligence 💡 UK Opportunity: The report highlights significant potential for improvement, particularly in: 🔹 Expanding Careers Service access 🔹 Investing in a professional Careers infrastructure 🔹 Aligning services with long-term workforce planning Serving 11.1 million adults seeking career development, this insightful research could help optimise the approach across the UK. #WorkforceDevelopment #CareerGuidance #UKEmployers #TalentStrategy

🌱 Reimagining Apprenticeships: From Ladder to Opportunity Tree 🌳 An interesting article (https://lnkd.in/e6ZheFC2) from Jonathan Bourne (MD, Damar Training) which overviews recent apprenticeship trends and highlights critical challenges in the skills development landscape. Key Insights for UK Employers: 📊 Apprenticeship Landscape (Source: Latest Skills Analysis, https://lnkd.in/eZyZ7D_Q): 🔹 Level 2 and 3 apprenticeship starts continue to decline 🔹 Only 32% of apprenticeships are started by under-19s 🔹 Over 13% of 16-24-year-olds are not in education, employment, or training 🚧 Challenges: 🔹 132 different Level 2 apprenticeships, with many struggling to attract learners 🔹 Limited general education in current Level 2 apprenticeship models 🔹 Narrow, niche apprenticeships restricting broader career opportunities 💡 Proposed Opportunities: 🔹 Create broader, more flexible apprenticeship standards 🔹 Develop apprenticeships as "stepping stones" into high-growth sectors 🔹 Embed transferable skills, including emerging technologies like AI 🌟 Thought-Provoking Quote: "Rather than resembling a ladder, progression routes should resemble a tree - broad and strong at the base, with branches extending upwards and outwards into specialist high-value careers." Employers have a crucial role in shaping the future of workforce development. This insightful article suggests a refresh to move beyond traditional models and create more adaptive, inclusive apprenticeship pathways. #SkillsDevelopment #Apprenticeships #UKWorkforce #ProfessionalGrowth

🚨 Workforce Wake-Up Call: Economic Inactivity Crisis in the UK 📊 An early readout from the "Discovery Phase" of the Keep Britain Working Review by Sir Charlie Mayfield (https://lnkd.in/egdpn5Jf) reveals a critical challenge facing UK employers: economic inactivity is rising at an alarming rate - nearly 10 times faster than the growth of the working-age population! Key Early Insights: 💡 Nearly 800,000 more people are economically inactive due to health reasons since 2019 🏥 3 million people are out of the workforce because of illness 🧠 Mental health conditions have risen dramatically, especially among young people Challenges for Employers: 🔹 77% increase in young people with work-limiting health conditions 🔹 Potential productivity loss equivalent to £150bn 🔹 Growing difficulties in workforce retention and rehabilitation Opportunities: ✅ Create inclusive workplaces that support mental and physical health ✅ Develop effective case management for employees with health conditions ✅ Invest in early intervention and support strategies As ben willmott from CIPD aptly notes (People Management magazine, https://lnkd.in/ed7zn-Er): "The economic benefit of focusing on prevention and tackling sickness absence is huge." Employers have a critical role to play. Sarah McIntosh from Mental Health First Aid England emphasises: "Prevention is better than cure" - investing in supportive work environments can help individuals and businesses thrive. The early message is clear: There is a need for a collaborative approach between government and businesses to address workforce disengagement. #WorkforceHealth #HRStrategy #EmployeeWellbeing #UKBusiness

🚀 T Levels Surge: A Game-Changer for Employer-Led Learning in 2024-25 It is reported in FE Week (https://lnkd.in/gSGeXpNj) that T-Level starts have increased by 59%, reaching 25,500 students this academic year. Key highlights for employers: 💡 Opportunities: 🔹 Education & Early Years leading the pack with nearly 5,000 learners 🔹 Health, Digital Production, and Business routes showing strong growth 🔹 Over 367 providers now delivering T Levels (+100 from last year) 🔹 T Level placements are recognised in The 5% Club Accredited Membership Scheme through employer audit 🔍 Challenges to Navigate: 🔸 Low uptake in specialist areas like Healthcare Science (only 136 students) 🔸 Ongoing need for quality industry placements 🔸 Accessibility and assessment complexity remain barriers Catherine Sezen from the Association of Colleges highlights the critical need: "We need a clear plan to get more employers involved in all programmes to ensure enough placements." 🤝 Employers' Call to Action: 🔹 Embrace Generation 2 T-Levels (launching 2025) 🔹 Develop and expand robust placement programmes 🔹 Leverage The 5% Club Accredited Membership Scheme 🔹 Collaborate with educational providers to streamline technical education Insights from the recent DfE report suggest real progress, but there's significant room for more strategic employer engagement. #TechnicalEducation #SkillsDevelopment #FutureOfWork #Apprenticeships #UKEducation