Thinking of taking on an apprentice but not sure where to start? The Education Training Collective’s (Etc.) Gary Potts is here to offer a helping hand.

As Group Director of Business Engagement at the Etc. he is no stranger to helping employers, of big and small businesses, get their heads around the jargon.

The good news is, he said: “It can sound complicated when you are just getting started but there are teams, like ours, who are here to help. We can talk you through your options, helping you to review your organisation, identify where there are potential training needs and look at ways you can utilise apprenticeships to grow skills in your workforce, with funding you may already be paying!”

Here Gary offers a quick fire guide…

When taking on an apprentice, what are my responsibilities as an employer?

“This doesn’t differ too much from taking on any new employee, they have to have a contract, a safe working environment and access to the relevant policies and procedures and also be paid the correct wage. With regards to the apprenticeship, you have to make sure they are in a role that allows them to gather the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours. You need to assign a mentor to your apprentice and allow time in their contracted hours to complete 20% off the job training, which we will help you plan from the start.”

Is there an upper age limit for apprenticeships?

“Apprenticeships are now funded by the government irrespective of age, therefore the apprenticeship route can be used to retrain, upskill and develop your existing workforce, as well as to recruit new staff on apprenticeships.”

What is the Apprenticeship Levy?

“All employers with an annual wage bill of more than £3m pay the levy. It is 0.5% of the total wage bill. This money is allocated to an account that can then be used to fund apprenticeship training. If you don’t choose to use this fund for apprenticeship training, this money cannot be recouped or used to pay for anything else. Therefore it makes business sense to explore apprenticeship opportunities for new and existing staff.”

And what about small to medium sized businesses?

“Apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers is 95% funded by the government with a 5% co-investment required from the company, unless the apprentice is aged 16 to 18 where it is fully funded.

“The government is now phasing in a new web-based system for SMEs to use in the future, so if you are thinking about taking on an apprentice, speak to us about how this is all going to work.”

What do I need to pay an apprentice?

“There is a minimum apprenticeship wage set by the government, but you can choose to set the wage higher than this, in line with your business operating model.”

Is there funding or other incentives available?

There may be other, local, incentives and grants available for taking on an apprentice and that is part of conversation we can have. Potentially, the co-investment you make could be covered by available local grants, depending on meeting certain criteria, such as the sector you are working in and the age of the apprentice. We would help to review your case and advise what is available, if anything, to take on an apprentice.

I have heard of apprenticeship Frameworks and Standards, what are these and what is the difference?

Frameworks are a system that has been in place for a number of years, generally including a technical certificate and an NVQ, with a set duration for the apprenticeship to be completed in. You won’t be able to enrol on a Framework after July 2020.

There has been a change in how apprenticeships are designed. Now employer led, Standards are designed by a group of at least 10 sector employers coming together to identify the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for someone to be competent in a specific role. These standards must then be validated by the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education. Standards don’t necessarily contain qualifications but do include an independent end point assessment. This assessment will set tasks for the apprentice to prove they have the required knowledge, skills and behaviours (competencies) to undertake the role.

What is meant by 20% off-the-job training?

“This is training that is carried out in the apprentice’s normal working hours to help achieve the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are applicable to their programme.

Want to find out more about your apprenticeship options? Call the Etc. Business Development Team on 01642 865581 or email: business@the-etc.ac.uk

Incorporating Stockton Riverside College, Redcar and Cleveland College, Bede Sixth Form, NETA Training and The Skills Academy, Etc. can provide employers with advice and guidance about their options and also delivers an extensive range of apprenticeship training either direct to your workplace or from its campuses across the Tees Valley.

Chief Executive and Group Principal of the Education Training Collective, Phil Cook, has been named a National Leader of Further Education.

Named among the Department of Further Education’s latest cohort of college leaders, Phil will be tasked with providing strategic mentoring and support to colleges in need of improvement.

With a previous track record in college change management, Phil joined Stockton Riverside College in 2013 and, working with colleagues, quickly transformed the college from an Ofsted “requires improvement” to a “Good” grading.

Under Phil’s leadership, in 2015, the college merged with NETA Training, helping to secure engineering and construction training in the Tees Valley.

A further merger with Redcar and Cleveland College, in August 2018, helped to secure a dedicated further education college in Redcar, with Ofsted reporting rapid and significant progress in just a few months.

The overarching college group, which also incorporates Bede Sixth Form College and The Skills Academy, was renamed the Education Training Collective (Etc.), to more accurately reflect the diversity of its campuses in October, last year.

With 20 years of experience delivering further education improvement, Phil is quick to point out that success is inevitably the result of a collaborative approach.

He said: “Raising standards, in any field, is rarely the result of a singular effort. Throughout my career, I have worked with some amazing people. I love working in the FE sector and learning from those around me, and I continue to do so.”

The DfE announced plans to appoint additional college leaders to its national teams of further education and governor specialists in October last year, enabling more colleges to be supported.

Chairman of the Etc. Board of Governors Mark White said: “We are extremely proud to see our Group Principal, Phil Cook, selected as a National Leader of Further Education. At Etc. he has established a talented team who, through a culture of responsibility and accountability, are together able to achieve great things for the communities we serve.”

Results are in and the future is looking bright for a Tees Valley college group celebrating one year since merger.

Increased student numbers, outstanding achievements and a brighter outlook, all show the decision to merge was the right move.

Now, the group is changing its name to more accurately reflect the diversity of all of its campuses while still maintaining all of the individual college names.

Launching today, the Education Training Collective (Etc.) will be the new umbrella brand for the group, which incorporates Bede Sixth Form College, NETA Training, Redcar and Cleveland College, Stockton Riverside College, Tees Valley Logistics Academy and The Skills Academy.

Etc.’s Chair of the Board of Governors, Mark White OBE DL, said: “Following the successful merger of Stockton Riverside College and Redcar and Cleveland College, we have taken the decision to introduce a new overarching name for the college group, giving all of our sites a shared identity and brand, while maintaining the individual college names.

“It has been such a busy first year for the whole group with some remarkable achievements happening across all our sites. It felt like the time was right to introduce a new overarching name, giving all of our sites a shared identity and brand.”

The merger of Stockton Riverside College and Redcar and Cleveland College was completed on August 1, 2018, securing the future of a dedicated further education college in Redcar and Cleveland.

Mark said: “Investment in improved student facilities, industry standard equipment and services, along with shared resources, all supports best practice and has created greater learning opportunities for students and ensured a cohesive and effective transition across the group.

“One year into the merger we are already seeing significant impact with raised student aspirations, improved achievement and rapid progress.”

Redcar and Cleveland College has seen increased student attendance, retention, and aspirations, along with stronger links with employers and schools. At Bede Sixth Form achievement rates are up and this summer the college saw a 99% A level pass rate and 98% vocational success. In addition, NETA Training is receiving national recognition, being shortlisted for two prestigious industry awards and Stockton Riverside College is continuing to build engagement with employers with the recent launch of the North East School of Shipping in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and PD Ports.

Councillor Alison Barnes, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for
Children, said: “It has been very encouraging to see the success of this merger over the last year with both colleges going from strength-to-strength. We are especially pleased to see the improvements in attendance and retention of students at Redcar and Cleveland College and closer links with employers and schools. It is now the right time to have a new name encompassing both the Stockton and Redcar Colleges.”

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: “This is an exciting change for the group but one thing I’m sure won’t change is its dedication to the highest of standards and its commitment to helping every student be the best that they can be. Our education providers have such a key role to play in our aspiration for economic growth across the Tees Valley and I wish them every success.”

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, added: “I’m delighted to hear of the success achieved by the Stockton Riverside College Group since the merger a year ago.

“It’s important that all of the colleges and training providers are keeping their own identity, but this overarching brand connects them more closely, creating something that will become synonymous with quality. With all of our work to drive jobs and growth, it’s essential we give the next generation the skills to fill the high-quality roles being created. Etc. will play a huge part in helping local students fulfil their potential and giving businesses the skills they need to thrive.”

The Etc. name change has been approved by the Secretary of State and becomes official today. The new brand will be rolled out over the coming months.

Etc. Chair Mark said: “We are incredibly excited about this change. With a team of passionate and knowledgeable staff, engaging workspaces and industry-leading equipment, we have the capability and determination to offer the highest standard of education and training to local businesses, students and community stakeholders.”

It remains learning as usual for students as all of the colleges and training providers in the group will retain their existing names.

From pointing 1,245 sunflowers to the skies to bringing together an entire community in song, there’s no denying that Mike McGrother knows a things or two about showcasing arts in the community.

Now the Wildcats of Kilkenny frontman is at it again, but this time he is sharing his knowledge with the next generation of up and coming performers.

Mike has joined forces with Stockton Riverside College to help students discover new ways of bringing their performance into the community.

And the timing couldn’t be better as the Tees Valley works to secure its place as City of Culture 2025.

“It is so important for young people who want a career in the creative sector, be that as a performer or on the technical side of the business, to recognise the fantastic possibilities that are opening up to them,” said Mike. “With the proposed City of Culture status it feels like a good time to be passing on some of what I have learned and getting the students thinking about the possibilities that are here on their doorsteps.”

Having led from the front on Stockton’s cultural scene for some 25 years, Mike’s unique creative residency with Stockton Riverside College, will see him working with students at the college to help them become, “a central driving force in the cultural programme of Stockton and the wider Tees Valley”.

Stockton Riverside College’s Campus Principal, Lesley Graham, said: “I’m delighted that Mike is working with us to help develop our performing arts and technical theatre academy. The Tees Valley has an increasing reputation for hosting largescale events which attract tens of thousands of visitors such as Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) and most recently of course the Great North City Games.

“Add to the mix Stockton’s Georgian Theatre, Arc and the upcoming Globe Theatre, and it is clear there’s a real need to work with young people to ensure they have the wide ranging skills that Stockton and the Tees Valley require to support all the great things planned in the run up to our City of Culture 2025 bid.”

With a line-up of exciting projects in the coming months Mike is looking forward to getting the students on board; one of the projects he describes as his “most ambitious and most important community initiative to date”. The One More Light for Christmas scheme is a Tees Valley-wide life changing musical project focused on suicide prevention.

Mike, who was named one of the Prime Minister’s Points of Light for his work in the community, said: “If you look right back to the very roots of our cultural heritage it is about more than performing, it is also about social commentary and having a voice to potentially make changes in the community, to society and people’s opinions.”

By working with the Stockton Riverside College students, he said: “I want to remind everyone that they are the pioneering creatives of the 21st century and they can help to put Stockton and the Tees Valley on the world stage once again.”