News and events

Explore the latest news and insights from Aptem

News and articles

Webinars

Events

News and articles

The Aptem Higher Education Forum October 2023

Aptem Higher Education forum members met in Birmingham in October 2023 for a day of sharing best practices, guest speaker and Aptem team presentations, Q&A ...

Product launch of Aptem Checkpoint on demand webinar

Aptem Checkpoint product launch – a first look at independent AI-driven learner progress checking

We hosted a launch webinar of Aptem Checkpoint®, the first AI-powered feature to be built into the Aptem apprenticeship management system. Our Product team showcased ...

What is the Apprenticeship Providers and Assessment Register (APAR), formerly the Register of Approved Training Providers (RoATP)?

Aptem offers a wealth of resources designed to deliver the latest apprenticeship industry insights to APAR (formerly RoATP) providers. 

Terri Lee using Atpem for apprenticeship learning

Using Aptem as a learner: How Aptem supports my learning journey

Hear from a current apprentice how Aptem is supporting her in her learning journey.

business people shaking hands to confirm vocational technology agreement

Aptem: Investing in vocational technology to help address skills and employment challenges

Vocational training plays a vital role in bridging the gap between education and employment. Here we explore how Aptem, the UK’s leading SaaS apprenticeship delivery ...

Which apprenticeship systems could you consolidate with Aptem?

Aptem delivers all the tools providers need for streamlined, fully compliant apprenticeship management in one user friendly piece of software.

Webinars

Preparing for your SAR submission – with Kerry Boffey, CEO & Founder at FIN

Regular self-assessment is crucial for apprenticeship providers in ensuring quality assurance. Led by Kerry Boffey, the session provided practical insights, best practices, and tips for effective SAR submissions. The Aptem team demonstrated how to extract information from Aptem to showcase your provision’s performance effectively.

Aptem Checkpoint - first look at independent AI-driven learner progress checking

Aptem Checkpoint is our first AI-driven product which independently checks learner understanding, helps evidence progress and acts as a supportive tool to successful completion. We were joined by Ryan Palmer, CEO of YMCA and one of Aptem Checkpoint’s first customers.

How ITPs can survive and thrive in an inflationary market

The Strategic Development Network (SDN) and Aptem recently teamed up to produce a white paper aimed at helping Independent Training Providers (ITPs) negotiate the uncertain economic and policy landscape. This webinar brings together a panel of its contributors, including Alex Miles, Managing Director of Yorkshire Learning Providers, to discuss the strategies explored in the white paper.

Preparing for an ESFA Audit with Aptem

This webinar, hosted by Tony Allen, an expert and consultant in apprenticeships and compliance, and Freya Ni Chleirigh, Aptem Product Owner, compliments Aptem’s recently released eBook and provides information on how to prepare for Audit and maximise the support you can get from your apprenticeship management system – Aptem.

Exploring AI's transformative potential in apprenticeships: Insights from industry leaders

The session provides valuable insights from industry leaders as they candidly shared their reflections and firsthand experiences in identifying both opportunities and obstacles across crucial domains – broadening participation, enhancing the learner experience, driving operational efficiency and sector-wide retention.

Revolutionising Apprenticeships: Unleashing the Power of AI and Language Technology

Presented in collaboration with apprenticeship and AI expert, Sean Williams, the session explored the opportunities presented by AI and Large Language Models for the apprenticeship sector, and covered how you can manage the ‘watch outs’ of these advancements in technology.

Enhancing the evolution of apprenticeship technology through AI and Large Language Models

A panel of product and technology experts from Aptem comprehensively explore how apprenticeship technology should apply elements of language technology, to better support training providers to reap benefits. We delve into the dynamic role technology assumes and outline Aptem’s strategic approach to integrating AI into our product roadmap.

Addressing the challenges surrounding employer engagement

Presented in partnership with apprenticeship expert, Bally Bhogal, the session provided some insights into how you can effectively engage employers with the apprenticeship journey and overcome some of the key challenges we commonly hear from the sector.

Costing and Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (RPLE), linked to recent audits

Presented in partnership with Seren Skills, the session explored the challenges providers face in relation to RPLE, as identified in recent audits, and provided valuable insight into the applications of RPLE and the factors to consider in light of the new funding rules.

Quality, curriculum and compliance: how to avoid a funding headache

Presented in partnership with Compliance Specialist, Tony Allen, and Katie Thornton, Director of Quality and Performance at Ensis Solutions, the session explored how providers can balance quality, curriculum and compliance to create engaging apprenticeships that meet funding requirements.

Understanding the 23/24 apprenticeship funding rules

On 31 March 2023, the Department for Education released the 23/24 Apprenticeship Funding Rules. We partnered with compliance specialist, David Lockhart-Hawkins, to walk through the new planned rules, focusing on key changes and clarifications of the funding rules, and the potential impact on providers in implementing the new rules.

Aptem Commercial: Live demonstration and Q&A

Efficiently facilitating enrolment, administration and reporting for CPD and commercial courses can come with significant challenges. That’s why we’ve created Aptem Commercial: a complete solution to manage commercial course applications, admissions, payment and reporting. Hosted by our Sales Director, David Devine, this session provided a concise overview of Aptem Commercial, its functionality, and how it can be used to expand commercial offerings. For more information about Aptem Commercial, visit https://www.aptem.co.uk/commercial/

Aptem Assess: Live demonstration and Q&A

With approximately one in seven apprentices having a neuro-divergent profile, it is important for providers of all levels of apprenticeships to identify and address additional learning support (ALS) needs. Neurodiversity is not always obvious, and some learners may be unaware that targeted support could improve their chances of successful programme completion. This session walked through how Aptem Assess addresses this challenge.

The grab for growth: recruiting with integrity

Presented by Kerry Boffey, CEO and Founder of the Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (FIN), the session focused on the growth of apprenticeships and the challenges faced by providers as they increase learner numbers.

Apprenticeship engagement and compliance with David Lockhart-Hawkins

If last visits or progress reviews are what you measure risk of retention by, you’re a little behind the times. This webinar was hosted by David Lockhart-Hawkins, Director & Strategic Consultant in Apprenticeship Compliance and Implementation. David looks at best practices in monitoring your apprentice engagements and practical strategies to reduce funding risks including looking at the compliance role of engagement data, rules around compliance, best practices in measuring apprentice engagement data and more.

Identification of Additional Learning Support needs

This webinar introduced Aptem Assess: a new cognitive assessment tool that enables you to seamlessly identify and respond to learning needs. The webinar showcased how Aptem Assess provides a better way for you to integrate assessment into your onboarding, without lengthy processes for learners, external logins or the need to manually chase assessment completion.

Ofsted for training providers: What to look out for in 2022/23

Hosted by Kerry Boffey, CEO and founder of the Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (FIN), this webinar provided insight into what senior leaders and heads of quality might expect from an Ofsted Inspection over the coming months.

Compliance challenges with the the 22/23 funding rules

Led by compliance expert, David Lockhart-Hawkins, this session focused on some of the core difficulties faced by providers in efficiently implementing the new rules. David covers key changes to and clarification of the funding rules, and the potential impact on providers.

Developing a healthy compliance culture with David Lockhart-Hawkins

Is your approach to compliance creating an unhealthy working environment? Does the fear of error drive business behaviours? This webinar looks at how to create a healthy balance that is aware of risk but promotes transparency. Designed for leaders and managers, in addition to those who work in a compliance role, this webinar examines how they approach compliance in their organisation.

Understanding the updated Apprenticeship Accountability Framework with David Lockhart-Hawkins

In May 2022, the Department for Education released the updated Apprenticeship Accountability Framework Technical Specification for 2021 to 2022. These included a new measure for minimum apprenticeship provider performance level, with overall all-age QAR of less than 60% meaning provision ‘needs improvement’, and a rate of less than 50% meaning provision is ‘at risk’. This session looked to address provider questions.

How to manage change effectively in your workplace with Henry Cohen

Research from McKinsey and Company shows 70% of all transformations fail and this figure is concerningly rising. Whilst change is a constant, successfully implementing change, whether this is a technology change or other organisational change, requires a good change management strategy.

Henry Cohen, who has more than two decades of experience in managing large-scale, global business and technology change programmes, talks through the key factors behind an effective change management strategy and delivery.

Learner Reviews webinar with Tony Allen

Tony Allen is an expert consultant who offers his knowledge of the skills system and the government’s apprenticeship reform programme, acquired through fourteen years in the Skills Funding Agency, to help training providers and employers. In this webinar he talked through Learner Reviews: The role of learner reviews in the apprenticeship journey; The benefits of effective learner reviews; Why learner reviews are important; What happens if you don’t get them right; 7 steps to effective learner reviews. Shaun Elliott, Product Director at Aptem, walked through Aptem’s review functionality.

Big data in education and training

Why is Big Data important in the education and training sector? How will it shape the sector and delivery models in the future? How can you extract insightful information that can guide your organisational strategy? Host, Mark Abrahams, Head of Research at Aptem, explores these questions and more.

What is to be done about the UK’s skills deficit?

With the pandemic creating sectoral crises and Brexit affecting skilled labour migration, the UK’s skills deficit and misalignment needs urgent attention. With presentations by Dr Fiona Aldridge, Director for Policy and Research at the Learning and Work Institute and Dr Deborah Talbot, Employment and Education Editor at Aptem, this webinar looked at just why skills are so essential to the economy and wellbeing, and what policies the UK needs to ensure economic competitiveness and a secure society.

The future of learning delivery is blended

Trends towards blended learning and use of remote technologies have accelerated over the pandemic. Driven by pragmatics but also users who reap flexibility and access for hard to reach groups (parents, those with disabilities etc.). Post-pandemic expect a move to more use of blended learning. In this webinar Aptem’s Head of eLearning, Steve Hargreaves, took a pedagogic look at what teaching might work best remotely and face-to-face, and visions for an ideal blended learning experience.

Creating a digital literacy culture and using technology to enhance learning

The appetite for digital solutions has increased exponentially and there is huge opportunity to use technology to enhance learning. Watch our webinar with Georgina Burton, Head of Implementation, sharing her experience of developing digital literacy within organisations and building a digital culture that supports the use of technology within our sector.

Exploring alternative talent pools for recruiting employability professionals

Aptem has commissioned a piece of research in partnership with the IEP about the employability practitioner labour market, to help employability providers as they consider how they scale their workforce to meet growing demand.

Catch up on the presentation of this research, including a Q&A section at the end where employability providers who were able to attend the session raised some important points.

Changes, challenges and the role of digital in future employability programmes

Elizabeth Taylor from ERSA joined Tony Carr, 4Front Partners and Richard Alberg, Aptem, to discuss the changes, challenges and the role of digital in the future of employability and delivery of employability programmes.

How to manage employer engagement with Tony Allen and Ben Drain

Hosted by Tony Allen, an expert and consultant who offers his knowledge of the skills system and the government apprenticeship reform programme, and Ben Drain, Apprenticeships, Operations and Quality Director at Pareto Law, this webinar discussed best practices in employer engagement.

State of the Art Tech for Employment programmes

Aptem’s CEO, Richard Alberg, presents a view of today’s employability challenges and demonstrates how technology platform Aptem Employ can help job seekers back into work quickly and for the long term.

What role will behavioural sciences play in the post-pandemic employment recovery?

The Covid-19 crisis has disrupted employability, causing a rise in unemployment and redundancies that have taken a negative toll on the nation

Dr Darren Coppin, Founder and Head of Research considers the role behavioural sciences can, and should, play in the recovery of employability after the crisis.

A demonstration of Aptem’s Intelligence Dashboard for Universities

Aptem’s Richard Alberg and Mandy Crawford-Lee from UVAC held a webinar for Universities to discuss and demonstrate how they can use Aptem’s free Intelligence Dashboard to view market positions, identify opportunities and make data-driven strategic decisions.

What role will behavioural sciences play in the post-pandemic employment recovery?

The Covid-19 crisis has disrupted employability, causing a rise in unemployment and redundancies that have taken a negative toll on the nation

Dr Darren Coppin, Founder and Head of Research considers the role behavioural sciences can, and should, play in the recovery of employability after the crisis.

Upcoming events and webinars

Events
Webinars

In-person events

North East Learning Providers (NELP) AGM
Wednesday 6 December

Aptem will be at the NELP Member Meeting & AGM taking place in Washington. NELP members can book a place here.

Annual Apprenticeship Conference (AAC) 2024
Monday 26 - Tuesday 27 February 2024 | ICC Birmingham

Aptem will once again be exhibiting at the AAC, the leading conference for all those involved with the delivery of apprenticeships. Tickets are available here.

Upcoming Product demonstration webinars:

Aptem Apprentice 20-minute showcase
Wednesday 6 December 2023, 11am - 11.20am | Register here

Are you curious about what sets Aptem apart from other apprenticeship delivery systems? In this 20-minute overview, we’ll take you through the unique features in Aptem Apprentice that are designed to boost efficiency, support compliance and help you offer an exceptional learner and employer experience.

Upcoming thought leadership webinars:

Foundations for profitability - with Vince Hannant from Melior Esse
Thursday 18 January 2024 | 11am - 12pm | Register here

Do you truly understand the profitability of your operating model and does your organisational structure reflect this? Vince will discuss principles that your business should have in its process and operations to ensure you are in control of key decisions that influence your profit margins.

Upcoming Product Briefing webinars:

Managing compliance within Aptem with best practices
Thursday 23 November | 11am - 12pm

Changes to process automation
Tuesday 5 December | 11am - 12pm

Customers are invited to these training sessions via email.