Apprenticeship Programme | Funded Programmes
Akona is a recognised Apprenticeship training provider registered to access the Levy funded programmes through the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
Akona & Levy Funded Apprenticeships
The levy requires all employers with a wage bill over £3 million to pay an annual apprenticeship levy of 0.5% of their PAYE bill, which can only be recouped when they employ and train apprentices. Businesses will also receive a £15,000 annual allowance and an additional contribution of 10% on their monthly levy allocation.
What is the aim of the levy?
The government is committed to create and help fund three million apprenticeships by 2020. The levy is designed to invest in apprenticeship programmes and to raise additional funds to improve the quality and quantity of apprenticeships. It will address the skill gaps in the UK workforce, whilst also raising its profile.
How the levy can benefit businesses?
It can raise the number of apprenticeships but also increase the range of skills within the workforce, enabling companies to upskill existing staff members, or by creating a new talent pool which will address skill shortages within their business.
Akona can help you...
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We’ll get together with your workforce development team and discover how training can best be used to serve your business goals. We specialise in creating apprenticeship strategies for Rail Infrastructure Engineering & Overhead Line Construction, Business Administration, Security, Leadership & Management and Events Services. Whether you’re new to apprenticeships or already engaging with them, our team of experts can work with you to:
- Understand what the apprenticeship levy means and how it will impact you
- Understand the new standards and how existing training could contribute
- Develop strategies to ensure your business maximises its return on the levy investment
- Recruit and select apprentices and develop career pathways
- Identify progression routes to get your existing employees on to apprenticeships
- Create communication and engagement strategies to drive apprenticeship forward in your business
- The Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in April 2017
- The levy will apply to both public and private UK employers across all sectors with a payroll bill in excess of £3m a year
- It will be set at a rate of 0.5% of your total payroll
- Employers will receive a 10% top up to your levy payers digital account i.e. for every £1.00 will be increased to £1.10 in value
- It will be collected on a monthly basis based on ‘live’ HMRC payroll date
1. Apprenticeship programme - EAL Level 2 Diploma in Rail Engineering Operative Competence (RQF)
Overview of the qualification and course
This level 2 qualification has been developed by the Rail Engineering Employers Trailblazer group and as such is intended to provide the means to record the competency aspect of the Level 2 Rail Engineering Operative Apprenticeship. In order to articulate the specific level of skills, knowledge and behaviours required to demonstrate full occupational competence in the Apprenticeship, the employers in the Rail Engineering Apprenticeship Trailblazer group have developed a set of standards that this qualification represents.
Pathways and competencies offered
The content of this qualification covers the competency requirements of the Level 2 Rail Engineering Operative required by an Apprentice working or wishing to progress in Rail Engineering. This qualification is assessed by the apprentice gathering evidence in the workplace to support the recording of their competence. This qualification has six pathways, track, OLC, electrification, signalling, telecoms and traction and rolling stock and the learner can choose the pathway that suits their workplace and employer needs.
Pathways to be offered to gain this qualification includes:
- Track renewals and construction
- Overhead Lines Construction
- Signalling
- Telecommunications
- Traction
- Rolling stock
2. Apprenticeship programme - EAL Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Competence (RQF)
This competence qualification has been developed by the Rail Engineering Employers Trailblazer group and as such is intended to provide the means to record the competency aspect of the Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician Apprenticeship.
In order to articulate the specific level of skills, knowledge and behaviours required to be achieved and assessed to demonstrate full occupational competence in the Apprenticeship, the employers in the Rail Engineering Apprenticeship Trailblazer group have developed a set of standards that this qualification represents.
This qualification is aimed at apprentices in the rail engineering industry who need to demonstrate their competence to enable progression within their workplace and careers, they could be learners who may have limited prior experience in rail engineering but have the ability to achieve a level 3 qualification, for example:
Apprentices that are recent school Leavers, and are starting a career in the rail engineering; this qualification provides the knowledge aspect of the Level 3 Rail Engineering Apprenticeships Standard and can be attempted once the employer deems it appropriate to do so.
Up skilling of career changers who have may existing technical engineering competence and need this to be recognised in a qualification.
Pathways to be offered to gain this qualification includes:
- Track renewals and construction
- Overhead Lines Construction
- Signalling
- Telecommunications
- Traction
- Rolling stock