Why the Apprentice Levy Cant Be Pigeonholed

Why the Apprentice Levy Can’t Be Pigeonholed We are living through extraordinary times. Disruptive tech innovations, dizzying political upheavals and growing public demand for action on issues from inequality to the environment are all contributing to a landscape of unprecedented change.But we are still clinging to outdated ideas of how, and when, we should gain new skills. The use of apprenticeships is a great example of how old-fashioned thinking can hold a business back. Apprentice start figures have seen a decline in the last three years and are well short of the government’s initial three million target. In isolation, these figures paint a stark picture of the usefulness of the levy in driving apprenticeship uptake. Further, the ways in which the apprenticeship levy IS being used have sparked furious debate amongst sector influencers. The pervading narrative is that apprenticeship learning should be limited to young people fresh out of school. This is a myth that many employers also believe. In recent research of 510 UK mid-market employers carried out by Grant Thornton UK LLP, we found that 44% of respondents don’t currently use apprenticeships as a means of upskilling their people. In addition, over half (56%) still believe that apprenticeships are designed for employees at the beginning of their career and 42% think the focus is on new recruits. It’s time to change these outdated attitudes. We know from our 2018 Planning for Growth research that 92% of UK mid-market employers will need skills that don’t currently exist in their workforce in the next five years. Recruitment of new and entry-level talent will be vital in addressing this gap, but upskilling current employees is equally important. According to our employer research, 56% of organizations are already using the levy to fill these skills gaps by investing in current employees. The levy is a flexible tool that covers all levels of apprenticeships, from level 2 (equivalent to GCSEs) all the way to Masters’ level qualifications; it is available for existing employees as well as new recruits and has no age restriction. As such, it helps employers to effectively address three of the biggest issues faced skills development, diversity inclusion and top talent retention. Currently, 43% of mid-market employers say that the levy enables them to develop a diverse workforce. As a firm, we have fully embraced the introduction of the apprenticeship levy. We currently have over 800 apprentices in the business ranging between level 3 and level 7 and accounting for approximately 15% of our UK workforce. A key focus is broadening our talent pool to build greater diversity of thought and better serve our clients’ needs. We use levy-funded apprenticeships as a catalyst to remove barriers in recruiting talent. University is a fantastic way to gain skills, but it’s expensive. Apprenticeships allow people, no matter what their background, age or career stage, to earn and learn at the same time, gaining qualifications without the costs. “I’m finding that there’s a common misconception of what an apprenticeship entails,” she explained. “Even some of my larger clients are telling me they don’t employ apprentices, so they’re really surprised when I share my own experience of completing the Executive MBA. Once I explain that they’re paying the Apprenticeship Levy every month and could be using the funds to develop, incentivize and potentially retain their best talent, they see it in a whole different light.”Tax Director Mandipa Soni completed a Senior Leader Masters’ Degree Apprenticeship (Executive MBA) with a distinction earlier this year. Grant Thornton has also directly supported over 2000 organizations in implementing levy-funded training. Working closely with a small number of training providers we have co-developed a range of apprenticeship programs and supported the training organizations to take these to market at scale. Again, these range from level 3 through to level 7. ABM, which provides facility service solutions across the UK, is currently using the levy at every level of the business. Since developing a catalog of apprenticeships, the business has enrolled 23 mid-senior managers on our leadership programs offered in partnership with Activate Business School. ABM hopes the new apprenticeships will build managers’ confidence, enabling them to lead more effectively. There is still a huge opportunity to educate more employers on the range of powerful commercial benefits that come from the strategic deployment of levy-funded apprenticeships. When delivered against clearly defined business needs, skills development through apprenticeships can deliver outstanding results on a wide range of critical issues. Clinging to old fashioned ideas will leave you behind. About the author: David Hare leads Grant Thornton’s talent solutions team, supporting clients to drive business performance through their people and skills strategy. He has extensive experience working on the skills agenda across the public and private sectors. David’s specific focus is around the introduction of the apprenticeship levy â€" working tirelessly to change the perception in the market, from it being an additional payroll tax to an opportunity to develop a workforce for the future.

Resumes Cover Letter Writing Tool

Resumes Cover Letter Writing ToolA resume cover letter writing tool can help you to make your letter stand out in a crowd. It can also help you write one that gets the hiring manager's attention. A good cover letter can increase your chances of getting a call back job.As you will have discovered, this is a very important part of your job application. Many employers are expecting this letter to be professional and clear. You do not want to make any mistakes when it comes to your resume cover letter writing tool.You can use your own resume cover letter writing tool or hire someone to write one for you. This can cost quite a bit but it may be worth it to get the job. Also you should consider that the cost is generally very low. In many cases, if you get the job, you can pay for the person to do it.We all know how difficult the job search process can be and the piles of applications on your desk. Often we can find ourselves having to send in dozens of letters, some from our friends and f amily, as well as school and work references. Using a template may help you to get this pile of applications under control.Another great way to get an edge is to test your own letter. Write it and then try to improve it to see if it stands out from others. For instance, maybe you were to focus more on your qualifications and maybe you needed to emphasize them.This is something that should be thought about because some specific areas should be highlighted and others not so much. Maybe your career history should be considered in your cover letter. You can also be creative with your letter and provide examples of experiences you have in your work.Or perhaps you could speak in terms of your own experience. Maybe you should include that in your resume cover letter writing tool as well. After all, employers do care about their current employees in terms of past employment.A resume cover letter writing tool can help you take advantage of this opportunity to showcase your expertise. Not onl y will this help you get a better position but it will also help to get you a call back to discuss what you can offer your employer. Making a difference with your letter can provide the opportunity to increase your chances of landing the job.

5 Loans to Consider When Starting a New Business

5 Loans to Consider When Starting a New Business When starting a new business, you should have an outline of the capital needed to launch it successfully. This outline should include the office lease or monthly rent, the amount to use to purchase all equipment and supplies, license fee, transport fee, and salaries for your employees. Once you have the capital estimate for your start-up, you need to raise this amount before your expected launch date. Assuming that you had not saved, you can fund your business by taking a loan. A loan is a quick way to finance your business. It builds your credit, which is essential for future borrowing. When opening a new company, you should consider taking any of the loans below: Invoice Financing Your business can collaborate with a factoring company, which will help finance your business by improving your cash flow. You will be paid immediately you sell your receivables to them at a discount. This form of financing is a convenient way for companies that have to wait for long to have their invoices fulfilled. When you transfer your invoices, your clients are the ones to pay back the factoring company. Applying for this capital is easy. All you have to do is find an invoice factoring company you can trust, and they will guide you through the process. Business Loan Some lenders offer financial assistance to startups in the form of business loans. You will borrow the amount you need and reach an agreement on the time and amount to pay back, plus the interest. When making this agreement, take time to go through the lenders terms and conditions. Lenders are quite convenient since some do not need collateral. Moreover, your loan is approved quickly. Their interest rates are lower. Accessing a lender is also quite easy. Taking this loan can save you, but you should watch out for a lender with prepayment penalties. Personal Loan The best part about taking a personal loan is that it has a fixed interest rate. This loan is different from a business loan because you need a good credit score to get a personal loan. Also, some banks will require collateral and a guarantor for the approval to go through. Other requirements for a personal loan include proof of identity, proof of income as well as your tax returns. Loan From Friends Family You can ask a family member or a friend for a loan to start your business. Let them know that you will pay back with interest once your business starts to profit. Borrowing from a loved one is easy since you will not need collateral or a credit score. The probability of you receiving this money will, however, depends on how much they trust you. Microloan In case you have no source of income, taking a microloan could be a desirable choice. You do not need a credit history or collateral to qualify for this loan. Microfinance lenders fund small business since they do not lend too much money. This loan targets vulnerable groups in the society such as women or retirees.

The reason theres no #MeToo for domestic violence

The reason theres no #MeToo for domestic violence The #MeToo movement has focused on workplace harassment, and I keep thinking: when will #MeToo include domestic violence? I try to imagine what it will look like so I can help make it come faster. Workplace law only recently caught up with womens experience Twenty years ago laws were useless in the fight against sexual harassment and domestic violence. The courts added teeth to laws preventing workplace discrimination, and the #MeToo movement followed shortly after those changes. But the laws governing domestic violence remain as useless as ever. In 1991, courts ruled that victims of discrimination could win punitive damages for harassment, which allowed for large winnings. In 1998, courts ruled that companies were responsible for not stopping sexual harassment. But it took another 20 years for courts to define hostile work environment  and retaliation so victims had language to talk about their experience. After 2010, lawyers represented women in workplace harassment cases on a contingency basis knowing they had access to corporate funds in a settlement. The legal system is useless for domestic violence But theres no money in domestic violence cases because theres no big company to sue for negligence, so this law gets tested at a much slower pace than employment law. Without the financial winnings, lawyers have little incentive to take the case on contingency. Even if a woman does have the financial means to sue, most states dont allow family members to sue each other, perpetrators torture their victims in court, and winning a court-ordered restraining order or conviction is one of the most reliable indicators that the victim will soon be killed. So domestic violence cases end up in the hands of the district attorney, which makes the DA one of the most powerful people in the fight against domestic violence. This situation is not good. The DAs job is to prosecute cases that most benefit the public interest, and DAs dislike prosecuting domestic violence cases. These cases are extremely complicated and time consuming, and often the public has little empathy for domestic violence victims; its difficult to understand why a woman stayed if the violence was really that bad. So both women and district attorneys think its not worth the trouble to prosecute domestic violence. This means there is little public discourse about domestic violence. It happens in private and it stays private. Lack of language is always accompanied by lack of power The #MeToo movement, on the other hand, takes sexual assault out of the private arena and gives us a common language to understand our experience. The #MeToo movement is about clarifying what sexual assault looks like by talking about it. And the more we clarify language, the more likely women are to come forward and talk. One of the great moments of the #MeToo movement was when Taylor Swift testified against a guy who assaulted her. The testimony is amazing because Taylor puts words to events that happen all the time. She takes control of the language of sexual assault. Everyone cheered. Taylor Swift did not sue for money, and the perpetrator had already lost his job. Her case is another type of legal action a woman can takeâ€"not looking for financial reward, or vengeance, but rather to make sure men dont keep getting away with this behavior. But you need to have money to do that. The #MeToo movement is fueled, in part, by women who stayed quiet about workplace harassment until they gained power, and then the women used their power to bring attention to #MeToo. Taylor Swift is a great example of using her power and money to show women how to take down a perpetrator. Another way #MeToo has transformed society is by bringing women together. The movement was born in social media, and social media enables women to find safety in numbers. Cases against Harvey Weinstein, Larry Nassar, and Jeffrey Epstein are strong because there are so many women telling the same, horrific story. At best, the #MeToo movement sheds stark light on the isolation of victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence doesnt allow the victim to keep quiet while she gains power because, more than workplace harassment, domestic violence precludes the buildup of power. And domestic violence rarely involves more than one victim at a time, so the victim could not find the solace of safety in numbers. We are in desperate need of the #MeToo corollary for domestic violence. We need laws that protect women from getting killed after they press charges. We also need a language for victims of domestic violence to describe their experience. We need to define the invisible violence of terror. We need to quantify the damages from the epigenetics of violence. And we need language to describe the illusion of love that makes the victim stay and stay until shes dead.

How To Use Resume Writing Services In Portland

How To Use Resume Writing Services In PortlandResume writing services are now a very popular thing in the Portland area. It's no secret that many people would like to get some extra work experience in order to be hired for the open position at their current employer.The Internet is a great place to look for jobs. If you're still employed with your old company, you might have been able to attend a career fair or job fair and find an opening that fits your skills and experience. If you're unemployed, there's still no reason why you can't take advantage of the power of the Internet to help you get your foot in the door.There are many people that have become successful using resume writing services in order to land a new job. A resume is by far the most important piece of paper that you'll ever submit for a job interview.You need to be careful about how you present yourself when it comes to a resume. In many cases, if you spend the time required to craft a good resume, you'll be able to demonstrate to the hiring manager just how competent you are and what kind of person you'd be if they hired you. Without a quality resume, you will never stand a chance of getting the job that you want.Resume writing services can help you write a great resume. There are many people that do not have the time, training, or tools necessary to craft a good resume. They end up compromising on the quality of their resume by selecting low quality software and writing out a lot of the information that they need on their own.Hiring a professional means that you won't have to take away from your time and focus on the things that are important. They will help you design the most effective resume possible for you, which is especially helpful for someone who has a busy job and a busy family life. If you're considering a resume, it's definitely a good idea to contact an agency in order to learn more about the process.In addition to helping you, you will also be able to communicate with the agency , as well as have a chance to interact with some good people. You will feel as though you are connecting with an employer for the first time.The most important thing to remember is that you need to be extremely organized and be able to document everything. The final product should represent the real you. A resume written by a professional will make an employer understand just how much you can offer to the company.

Middle Age Unemployment What Can You Do - CareerAlley

Middle Age Unemployment What Can You Do - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. A growing number of people in their 50s and 60s desperately want or need to work to pay for retirement in order to have a secure quality of life. Exclusion from the work force can financially destroy middle-aged persons. And since the economic collapse, there are not enough jobs being created for the population as a whole, much less for those in the twilight of their careers. Unemployment Devastation Among the 14.9 million unemployed, more than 2.2 million are age 55 or older. Nearly half of them have been unemployed six months or longer, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate in the group 7.8 percent is at a record, more than double, what it was at the beginning of the latest recession. Being unemployed at any age can be crushing. However, older workers suspect their rsums are often shoved aside in favor of those from younger workers. Others discover that their job-seeking skills as well as some technical skills sought by employers are rusty after years of working for the same company. Many had in fact anticipated working past conventional retirement ages to gird themselves financially for longer life spans, expensive health care and reduced pension guarantees. The most recent recession has increased the need to extend working life. Older workers who lose their jobs could pose a policy problem if they lose their ability to be self-sufficient. It means that for the new unemployables, people have been cast adrift at a very vulnerable part of their career and their life. Financial Impact Obsolete Skills Forced early retirement or unemployment imposes an intense financial strain, particularly for those at lower incomes. But even middle-class people who might skate by on savings or a spouses income are jarred by an abrupt end to working life and to a secure retirement. Older people who lose their jobs take longer to find work. In August, the average time unemployed for those 55 and older was slightly more than 39 weeks, according to the Labor Department, the longest of any age group. That is much worse than in August 1983, also after a deep recession, when someone unemployed in that age group spent an average of 27.5 weeks finding work. Advocates for the over 50 age group worry that younger people are more likely to fill new jobs as well. Older workers skills have atrophied for one thing and may have become less relevant to the jobs now available. Many middle age people who lost stable, well-paying jobs during the recession are still struggling to find solid career ground several years later. Education Career Retraining There have never been more opportunities for further learning and career retraining than now. Want a tax break? Go back to school. Two federal income tax credits could help if you return to school to improve your resume in this still-struggling economy. The first is the American Opportunity Credit that covers up to $2,500 of undergraduate expenses. The second is the Lifetime Learning Credit that covers up to $2,000 for graduate school and other training. Not only can you get tax credits for retraining, you have several options that are available in a variety of means, from on-site to online. Penn Foster is a nationally known leader in online courses, from high school to bachelors degrees, including highly popular and growing careers like pharmacy technician, home remodeling and repair or medical assistant/billing coding. Byline:Lourdes Garcia Lourdes is the first person in her family to graduate from college, and now she is working on her MBA. She hopes to make a splash in the business world, and she loves writing advice about her climb to the top. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Joey Trebif

Thank you Iceland - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Thank you Iceland - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Im back from Reykjavik?where I did a workshop for Icelandic pharmaceutical company Medis (part of Actavis) at their 30th anniversary and 2015 kick-off meeting. Thank you to everyone at Medis for being tremendously?kind and for being such?generous hosts. I?loved Iceland! People are kind and funny, Reykjavik is beautiful and the food there is AMAZING. Ill be back :) This means weve now spoken in 34 countries.?Awesome! From the workshop The view from the meeting room Inside the building The new concert house in Reykjavik where I spoke Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related