Apprentices Connect Together – Act to Ignite. Register for your free place today!

All apprentices are invited to join this free mindfulness and positivity workshop, being held on Monday 8^th February, 12:30 – 13:30 with celebrity coach, George Anderson.

This motivational and uplifting workshop is designed to support current and past apprentices to focus on their own apprenticeship journey.
They will explore how to develop positive daily practices that will help them to cultivate a positive mindset and ignite their inner motivation to spot opportunities and enhance their careers.
To register, please click here www.amazingapprenticeships.com/act

Ofqual Must Allow Teacher-Assesed Grades for Apprentices 

For GCSE and A level students, it has been decided that exams will take the form of teacher assessments this year. However, as of yet, nothing has been confirmed to help support apprentices. Read the full article by Jane Hickie here.

Apprentice Ambassador Network Newsletter 

Please click here to see the latest Apprentice Ambassador Newsletter. 

Pearson BTEC introduces Digital Resources Hub

Pearson BTEC have created a Digital Resources Hub where BTEC students can find a range of resources to assist them in their qualifications. These resources include teaching and learning resources, BTEC sector-specific resources and assessment resources. For more information, visit the site here.

Apprenticeship Incentive Scheme Extended Until March 2021

After announcing the Apprenticeship Incentive Scheme in the Summer Statement, Rishi Sunak has now confirmed the scheme will be extended from January to 31^st March 2021. This has been confirmed on the government website, for further inforation, please click here.

Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education - Stakeholder Survey

The Institute for Apprenticeships has launched its annual stakeholder survey. If you would like your views to be included follow this link - take survey here

Date announced for National Apprenticeship Week 2021

The 14th annual National Apprenticeship Week will take place from 8– 15 February 2021, Apprenticeships and Skills Minister, Gillian Keegan has announced today (21 September).

The annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, taking place across England, will showcase how apprenticeships have helped employers and people of all ages and backgrounds. Employers are encouraged to promote the great work of their apprentices, whilst highlighting the many benefits apprenticeships bring to business. Apprentices, at all stages of their learning will also be celebrated over the course of National Apprenticeship Week 2021.

Announcing the date for the Week in 2021, Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan said:

“National Apprenticeship Week is a great opportunity to highlight the amazing opportunities that an apprenticeship brings to employers, individuals and the economy.

“It has been fantastic to see how employers of all sizes have gone above and beyond to ensure apprentices can continue their studies during this unprecedented time. The week is also an opportunity to shine a light on how apprentices of all ages and backgrounds are helping to transform businesses across the country.

“As a former apprentice I know what a life changing experience it can be, and I’m looking forward to being part of National Apprenticeship Week 2021 and seeing first-hand the inspiring ways apprentices and their employers continue to deliver.”

The theme of National Apprenticeship Week 2021 will be announced later in the Autumn.

Version 8 of the guidance on the apprenticeship programme response to COVID-19 has been published  click here for details

This version focuses on:

• Information on the actions that training providers should take for the return of apprentices in September
• As apprentices return to work, assessment centres and educational settings, training providers, employers and EPAOs consider how best to minimise the risks of coronavirus transmission when determining how and when training and assessment takes place.
• Apprenticeship delivery can be extremely flexible and it is up to training providers, employers and EPAOs to agree how training is delivered, and how assessments are undertaken.  They may want to take advantage of more than one delivery method to balance any risks from coronavirus with providing a full educational experience.
• We ask that training providers, employers and EPAOs consider how much apprentices from different employers mix with other learners and staff when training in an educational setting or undertaking assessment.
• Updated guidance on workplaces and assessment centres.
• Additional information on local outbreaks, contingencies for outbreaks, and links to the wider FE guidance.
• Confirmation that we are planning to restart routine funding audits from September 2020.
• How apprentices who have been made redundant, or who are at risk of redundancy, can access online and telephone support through the Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices.
• Information on the new incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice.