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How growth and tech strategies are inextricably linked
To be successful and remain competitive, it’s essential that businesses embrace new technologies. There is no success without progress – and by extension change – but unfortunately change comes with inherent challenges. Whether the new technology you are implementing is customer facing, back-of-house or both, you are bound to come across some difficulties in the process.

Aptem HE Forum recap: Special Interest webinar on ESFA funding compliance
To be successful and remain competitive, it’s essential that businesses embrace new technologies. There is no success without progress – and by extension change – but unfortunately change comes with inherent challenges. Whether the new technology you are implementing is customer facing, back-of-house or both, you are bound to come across some difficulties in the process.

Why new technology can feel like it’s uncovering more than it’s fixing
To be successful and remain competitive, it’s essential that businesses embrace new technologies. There is no success without progress – and by extension change – but unfortunately change comes with inherent challenges. Whether the new technology you are implementing is customer facing, back-of-house or both, you are bound to come across some difficulties in the process.

Tips for running effective tripartite review meetings
Learner reviews are a fundamental aspect of any apprenticeship. Yet running these meetings well is a skill that evidently has not been mastered by all. As shared in a recent webinar on learner reviews by expert consultant Tony Allen, many Ofsted reports feature feedback along the lines of: “Apprentices’ progress reviews do not capture all aspects of apprentices’ development. Employers do not review apprentices’ progress with Coaches. Too often Coaches agree targets with apprentices that are too vague to meaningfully guide the apprentice. Review records do not capture what the apprentices know and understand about areas such as British Values.”

Webinar recap: How to manage employer engagement in the delivery of apprenticeships
Tony Allen (CEO of Allen Apprenticeships and Skills), and Ben Drain (Apprenticeships Operations and Quality Director at Pareto Law) presented a webinar for more than 150 apprenticeship providers to explore the topic of effective employer engagement.
With many years of experience in apprenticeships delivery, Tony Allen and Ben Drain have deep insights into where successful providers excel in the services they provide and the growth of their organisations. In this webinar, they focused on one key component – providers’ approaches to employer engagement.

Using behavioural science to enhance apprenticeship delivery
“The behaviours required to prosper in a new world are different.” Aptem CEO, Richard Alberg. Although we might not yet be living in what we can call a ‘post-pandemic’ world, the pandemic has already significantly changed the behaviours and skills we need to thrive. Behavioural science can help us to pinpoint and understand these changes, as well as offer useful insights that can be applied to service delivery, and ultimately support people into work.

The evolution of blended learning
Blended learning incorporates in-class and remote learning, making use of digital technology to deliver engaging, flexible and collaborative education. Advances in technology have been challenging the classroom-centric mode of teaching since before the pandemic. Yet at the same time, it’s also widely recognised that technology has a significant role to play in education, not least because it is increasingly fundamental to everyday life. The role of education is to prepare young people for independence and success, and digital skills are undoubtedly essential for both.

Reframing apprenticeships: the importance of level 2 and 3 apprenticeships
Delivered by employers in partnership with training providers, level two and three apprenticeships offer a concrete and reliable path into employment, and a steady supply of new recruits to companies that can train them in the specific skills they require. However, these lower-level apprenticeships have been overshadowed in recent years by the higher- and degree-level apprenticeships that offer an alternative to university education. The declining uptake in level two and three apprenticeships reflects a missed opportunity for employers and employees alike. Here, we explore why.

Understanding the skills deficit now
The skills deficit in the UK is not a new challenge. As reported in our recent skills-focused white paper, in 2019 a quarter of all vacancies were skills-deficit related, with 60% of these in medium- and high-skilled roles. ONS data from October 2021 reveals a record high number of job vacancies between July and September 2021, indicating the re-opening of many sectors. Yet, as pointed out in the Big Issue, much of the positive news around employment relates to low-skilled, temporary and insecure work; a gap is preventing people from finding secure employment to match their skillset and their needs.
This article explores a pan-sector skills gap, the influence of Brexit and coronavirus on the skills gap, the current talent pool, and the future of employment in the UK.

How have the government schemes performed at a local level?
The government has taken a sector- and skills-specific approach to tackling unemployment across the UK, rather than forming their response to specifically meet challenges as they are presented at a local level. So, how have these schemes performed locally? Have local authorities and businesses been provided with the tools they need to successfully kick-start local economies? And what should their next steps be?

Sunak’s Autumn Budget and Employability Services
Announced on 27 October, Rishi Sunak’s autumn budget is as interesting for what it includes as for what is omitted. Given the proximity of the announcement to COP26, the budget has been criticised for a lack of emphasis on green initiatives and the government’s net-zero plan. The cost of long-haul flights is set to rise (with climate change cited as the reason), yet duty on domestic flights has been cut. Overall, as reflected in this particular example, the budget is a mixed bag, offering some causes for celebration, and others for commiseration.

Traineeships explained
The government introduced traineeships in 2013 as a stepping stone for young people leaving school to either get into an apprenticeship, or directly into work. They offer a means for school-leavers to gain valuable work experience while filling in any academic gaps with the core subjects of maths and English. Provided by businesses and aimed at young people who are unemployed or have little or no work experience, traineeships give 16- to 24-year- olds a clear pathway into work.

Degree apprenticeships white paper says mandated qualifications should stay
The white paper, which includes perspectives from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), the University Vocational Awards Council, former business secretary and leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable and university-based apprenticeship managers, was written to inform the IfATE’s consultation and review of integration and standards in degree apprenticeships.
The white paper found that the function of mandated degrees went far beyond shaping an apprenticeship’s off-the-job training. While much work is needed to ensure degree apprenticeships deliver widening participation, the evidence shows degree qualifications enhance productivity, increase social mobility, and offer enhanced and transferrable skills to graduates and employers.

The Challenge of College Enrolment
Colleges are experiencing higher rates of enrolment than ever before and as we approach winter, it’s still unclear whether we’ll be forced to re-introduce measures to control the spread of coronavirus. This means enrolment processes may need to be conducted remotely and thanks to digital solutions, like Aptem Enrol, this is easily done.
Our latest article looks at the challenge of college enrolment and how colleges, students, and employers nationwide benefit from a single, remote enrolment solution.

Coaching support at a distance – using data analytics to enhance employability programmes
The Institute of Employability Professionals, Digital Technology Conference took place in September. Mark Abrahams, Head of Research and Analytics at Aptem, presented a data masterclass about utilising data insights from the jobseeker journey. Click to read the highlights from the session and download the webinar content.

Digitalising employment services to survive local authority budget cuts
Local authorities around the country are struggling to meet budget-cut demands as they struggle to make do with much less and residents feel the impact. The digitalisation of employability services will be key as local authorities and housing associations struggle to provide the same support as they did pre-pandemic, and for an increased number of jobseekers.

First findings ahead of the furlough scheme ending
The government’s furlough scheme is scheduled to finish at the end of September. As we near that date, we take a look at hopes, fears and predictions for the millions of people still being supported by the scheme, and the steps the government can take to safeguard the recovery of our economy.

MWS Technology secures funding from existing investors keen to accelerate the growth of Aptem
MWS Technology, the company behind the award-winning Aptem vocational training and employability products, has secured additional funding from existing investors, …
Webinars

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.

How to manage employer engagement with Tony Allen and Ben Drain
Effectively managing employer engagement when delivering apprenticeships is the theme of our first thought-leadership webinar in 2022. 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.

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.

Plan for Jobs extension announced – what employability and training providers need to know
It has been 16 months since the Plan for Jobs scheme was launched to safeguard the economy. The intention of the scheme has been to support people back into employment and plug the skills gap in much needed industries, while helping people to build successful careers.
As we move into the new phase of the Plan for Jobs, our webinar delivered by Georgina Burton, Head of Implementation at Aptem, covered the progress made so far by the various employment and skills initiatives. What schemes have performed well and what employability and skills providers need to know about the newly announced extension for the Plan for Jobs scheme.

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.

Apprenticeship engagement and compliance with David Lockhart-Hawkins

Compliance Masterclass with Tony Allen: ESFA Audit requirements and how Aptem can help ensure compliance

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

Will the employability sector recover?

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

The future of learning delivery is blended

Creating a digital literacy culture and using technology to enhance learning

Exploring alternative talent pools for recruiting employability professionals

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

Big data in education and training

State of the Art Tech for Employment programmes

A demonstration of Aptem’s Intelligence Dashboard for Universities

Pandemic Challenges and Opportunities for Apprenticeships
Watch our webinar with Aptem’s Chief Product Officer Mike Sims, Product Director Shaun Elliott and award-winning training provider Corndel’s Chief Operating Officer Mushall Khan, discussing today’s challenges and opportunities within the Apprenticeship marketplace.
The Employability Forecast
Welcome to the Employability Forecast, the Aptem Employ podcast.
In this series, we explore employability from every perspective, from jobseekers, to providers, from employers, to government. This is your insider resource into the employability sector.
Upcoming events and webinars
AELP National Conference
27 June - 28 JuneAELP Autumn Conference
1 November

AELP National Conference
27 June - 28 JuneAELP Autumn Conference
1 November