Product news and updates.
ACAR is an independent annual compliance review exclusively for Aptem customers, delivered in partnership with Lockhart Hawkins – giving training providers a structured, objective view of their compliance position.
Learn more about the 2026/27 apprenticeship funding rules, what they mean for providers and how Aptem is addressing the new requirements.
Discover how further education colleges are using Aptem to improve the learner experience for apprentices – from intuitive navigation and mobile access to progress tracking and off-the-job hours logging.
Discover how further education colleges are using Aptem to improve the learner experience for apprentices – from intuitive navigation and mobile access to progress tracking and off-the-job hours logging.
Understanding the impact of the ongoing changes to apprenticeship assessment and the value of an end-to-end platform to manage the requirements
Aptem has been awarded the prestigious ‘Learning Technologies Organisation of the Year’ title at the Learning Technologies Awards 2025. The announcement was made at a gala ceremony in London on 12 November, where the very best in learning innovation and achievement were recognised and celebrated.
As AI becomes more prominent in skills delivery, apprenticeship providers must balance innovation with trust and compliance. Responsible AI supports this by enhancing, not replacing, human judgement in assessment.
Aligned with Ofqual guidance, AI can streamline marking, improve consistency and speed up feedback, while tutors remain fully in control of decisions. The result is a more efficient, transparent approach that protects standards and improves the learner experience.
Apprenticeship providers are facing increasing expectations to deliver structured, impactful careers guidance that helps learners understand clear progression pathways. With Ofsted highlighting gaps in planned advice and guidance, aligning apprenticeship delivery with the Gatsby Benchmarks is becoming essential. This article explores why the benchmarks matter for apprenticeship providers and how tools like Aptem Apprentice can help embed, track and evidence meaningful careers guidance throughout the learner journey.
For training providers and employers looking to join the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR), success hinges on more than strong programme design and compliant policies.
What often determines how smooth your application – and your first year of delivery – will be is something less visible, but just as critical: your technology.
In our webinar, Understanding the changes in the Apprenticeship Accountability Framework, compliance specialist David Lockhart-Hawkins explored what has changed and how providers can respond. Alongside the regulatory updates, we also demonstrated how Aptem supports providers to monitor performance in practice, with reporting and dashboard visibility aligned to the AAF.
With the Ofsted’s latest Education Inspection Framework (EIF), the shift from ‘leadership and management’ to ‘leadership and governance’ represents a significant change for all providers. In a webinar with Kerry Boffey, CEO and Founder of FIN and Hayley Wilcox, Chief Operating Officer at Instep, we explored what this shift means in practice and how providers can respond with confidence.
During NAW2026, Aptem celebrates the people delivering high-quality apprenticeships and explains why championing customer excellence matters.
From enabling personalisation for every learner to building learning plans easier and faster, hear how Pareto is transforming the way it builds and manages its learning plans with Aptem.
Discover how Ofsted will be considering staff wellbeing in future inspections, the importance of clear leadership and governance on the topic and the role of the suite of AI-powered tools within Aptem Enhance to support staff wellbeing
Learn how Pearson TQ leverages Aptem as a flexible, accessible digital learning platform – enabling every apprentice to access tailored training, regardless of location, schedule, or individual accessibility needs.
AI is transforming apprenticeship delivery, but without a clear strategy it brings compliance, security and quality risks. Learn how structured, ethical adoption unlocks smarter reviews, better engagement and meaningful efficiency gains.
Terms and conditions for the Aptem customer survey December 2025. Submissions will enter a £100 Amazon voucher prize draw. The
The 2025 Ofsted framework demands rigorous, data-driven evidence of quality, inclusion and leadership. Aptem provides an integrated solution that keeps providers inspection-ready, enabling seamless evidence capture, risk monitoring and personalised learner support. Its tools ensure clear oversight, consistent teaching quality and robust digital evidence of intent, implementation and impact across every learner journey.
Aptem has been awarded the prestigious ‘Learning Technologies Organisation of the Year’ title at the Learning Technologies Awards 2025. The announcement was made at a gala ceremony in London on 12 November, where the very best in learning innovation and achievement were recognised and celebrated.
We are thrilled to announce that Aptem has been named the Business Education Learning Product of the Year at the Digital Education Awards 2025, further cementing our reputation for award-winning apprenticeship management.
TICA shares how Aptem Enhance’s AI-powered marking aid has revolutionised assessment: faster marking, streamlined workflows, clearer feedback trails and stronger support for learners and tutors. Read how this innovation is delivering real operational impact.
Digital transformation is more than new technology – it’s about preparation, people, and partnership. Discover key steps and best practices for planning, launching, and sustaining a successful digital system in education and training.
Training providers must balance compliance, quality, and admin demands. Aptem Enhance’s AI saves tutors up to a day weekly, reducing admin and improving teaching quality, engagement, and consistency. Freed time enables personalised learning, faster feedback, and stronger outcomes through data-driven insights and automation.
AI can streamline apprenticeship reviews by reducing admin, saving time, and enabling tutors to focus on coaching, mentoring, and learner support. Discover how automation can help tutors deliver more personalised support to learners.
By moving to Aptem, LSBU transformed apprenticeship administration, enhanced compliance, improved the learner and employer experience, and is now saving £150,000 – £200,000 a year. Read their story.
With ambitious plans for further expansion, the Impact Futures team set out to transform operations, client experience, and compliance through the implementation of advanced technology, selecting Aptem as their preferred solution. Read their story.
AI is reshaping marking in apprenticeships, but tools like ChatGPT pose risks with accuracy, bias, and data privacy. Learn how classification AI offers secure, consistent, and regulation-aligned marking to support tutors and improve learner outcomes.
As part of Aptem’s extensive customer support and growing library of supporting resources, a new series of training webinars has been launched to help providers make best use of the AI-powered tools available within Aptem. The sessions share expert knowledge, best practice and top tips for maximising the value of Aptem Enhance.
As education and training providers look to enhance quality and efficiency, progress reviews remain a crucial touchpoint in the learner journey. At Aptem, we’re helping organisations move beyond box-ticking by introducing automatic review summarisation – making it easier to capture rich insights, support compliance, and empower tutors to focus on meaningful conversations with learners.
This article, authored by Founder of Melior Esse, Vince Hannant, explores areas of apprenticeship operations that may have most impact on your operational efficiency.
As AI technology rapidly integrates into our everyday lives, the education and training sectors are facing a critical question: Should learners be prevented from using AI tools – and is it even possible to enforce such a rule? At Aptem, we’ve been exploring the reality of AI use in learning, from the risks of shadow AI to the importance of transparent and professional integration.
AI tools are transforming apprenticeship delivery, but without proper oversight, they also introduce serious risks. Many providers are already seeing the rise of shadow AI usage – unapproved AI tools being used within organisations, often without governance or compliance checks. This can jeopardise data security, breach UK GDPR, and compromise academic integrity.
We have developed a comprehensive approach to compliance, supporting providers through every annual funding rule change. With our compliance advisory board, up-to-date Help Centre funding rules hub, and regular platform enhancements, you can be confident that your organisation remains fully compliant. Many customers also benefit from our expert-led webinars, which offer accessible guidance on the latest sector changes. Read more here and see how Aptem helps organisations stay ahead in a changing compliance landscape.
In this article, we look at key ways short course and non-apprenticeship providers can use Aptem to simplify enrolment, manage compliance, and drive learner outcomes.
We have developed a comprehensive approach to compliance, supporting providers through every annual funding rule change. With our compliance advisory board, up-to-date Help Centre funding rules hub, and regular platform enhancements, you can be confident that your organisation remains fully compliant. Many customers also benefit from our expert-led webinars, which offer accessible guidance on the latest sector changes. Read more here and see how Aptem helps organisations stay ahead in a changing compliance landscape.
Discover how Aptem shapes the future of apprenticeship learning with AI-powered onboarding, recognition of prior learning, tailored feedback, and interactive workshops. Follow a typical learner journey journey and see how apprentices and providers benefit from clear structure, continuous support, and reduced admin.
We have created a range of service packages so providers can choose the best one to support their needs, depending on their own resourcing, pace of change, and delivery model complexity. Many customers choose our Platinum, top-level support package and find it pays for itself many times over, with benefits including bespoke training, an annual tenant audit, dedicated Customer Success Manager, and more. Read more here and learn how our current customers are getting value from their Platinum subscription.
In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficiency and streamlined communication are paramount. That’s why we’ve created the communications connector for Microsoft Teams.
The UK’s latest immigration reforms aim to boost domestic skills and apprenticeships, but questions remain about funding, incentives, and delivery. Discover what these changes mean for employers, providers, and the future workforce.
In this article we discuss the Aptem Assess ‘number recall’ task which evaluates memory span and working memory by asking learners to recall numbers. This helps identify underlying specific learning difficulties like dyslexia and ADHD.
Read the key takeaways from our 26 February 2025 webinar, “The Latest on Functional Skills: Sector Analysis and Recommendations.” Hosted in partnership with the Fellowship of Inspection Nominees and Remit Training, the session explored changes to Functional Skills requirements in apprenticeships.
In this article we discuss the Aptem Assess ‘Similar Words’ task, which measures key cognitive abilities such as verbal reasoning, vocabulary, and semantic processing. It explains how this task helps quickly identify learners who might have specific learning difficulties, emphasising the importance of verbal reasoning in understanding and processing both spoken and written language.
In this article, we take a look at the key considerations for apprenticeship providers planning to integrate AI solutions into their tech stack.
Discover how you can get data-driven insights for your business using Aptem’s apprenticeship OData, built-in dashboards, and user-generated reports.
In these short videos, we explore Aptem’s impact on apprenticeship delivery from the perspectives of Lifetime’s tutors, learners, and employer partners. Discover how Aptem enhances learning experiences, fosters engagement, and supports the success of Marston’s longstanding partnership with Lifetime Training.
In this article we discuss Aptem Assess’s interactive ‘Symbols’ task, a quick game designed to measure processing speed – a key cognitive ability impacting reading, maths, and overall learning. Read on to learn how this 15-minute assessment can help pinpoint those needing extra support.
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Rien Sach as CEO, succeeding Richard Alberg, who transitions to the role of Executive Chairman. This leadership change marks a significant step in Aptem’s evolution as it continues to respond to the growing demand for vocational training amidst the transformative potential of AI technology.
An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) acts as a customised blueprint for an apprentice’s journey, guiding their path from novice to skilled professional. Drawing on our experience of supporting hundreds of providers, this article delves into the core components of Individual Learning Plans.
Today, to effectively serve the requirements of the workforce, those delivering the training are adopting cutting-edge technology—such as AI and machine learning — to achieve this mission. By streamlining workloads and freeing up tutors’ schedules, these tools allow educators to focus on what they do best: teaching.
Recent analysis of the UK apprenticeship market reveals that Aptem customers have experienced significantly higher than average growth in learner starts over the past three years.
Accurate assessment results depend on effective design and test-taker motivation. This article explores the significance of learner engagement, key elements of good assessment design, and strategies for reducing anxiety to boost motivation.
It’s reported up to 20% of adult learners are neurodiverse, often unaware of their specific learning difficulties. What is the science behind identifying these challenges?
Terms and conditions for the Aptem Annual Industry Survey 2025. Submissions will enter a £100 Amazon voucher prize draw. The
With the 2023/2024 academic year behind us and the dust settled from the R14 submissions, providers can take a moment to reflect and regroup. As we look ahead to the 2024/2025 academic year, it’s the perfect time to start preparing to ensure a smooth R14 process next year. This article explores practical strategies and tools to streamline your processes with the help of Aptem.
The Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model of cognitive abilities (e.g., Schneider & McGrew, 2012) provides an explanation of how different cognitive abilities relate to each other and how this might impact an individual’s academic performance and workplace learning. Diagnostic testing for specific learning difficulties uses the CHC model to identify whether a learner has a relative weakness in one or more of the main components linked to learning achievement.
Apprentice learners who need to complete functional skills in English and Maths often struggle more with their apprenticeship programmes. They tend to fall behind schedule and are more likely to drop out. This issue is particularly pronounced at higher apprenticeship levels.
Drawing on conversations with multiple apprenticeship providers, we offer a reminder of why a strategic response to this technology revolution matters to senior leadership teams.
Aptem’s study of over 160,000 apprentices highlights that functional skills modules in English and Maths negatively impact completion rates. Apprentices that have these modules as part of their programme often face delays and are almost twice as likely to drop out compared to peers. About 27% have functional skills, leading to a higher likelihood of falling behind.
Aptem’s analysis shows that the percentage of apprentice learners reporting a learning difficulty or disability (LLDD) has risen dramatically over the past two academic years.
Aptem and Graide have introduced the first AI-driven marking aid for apprenticeships, integrated within the Aptem platform. This tool aims to cut tutors’ marking time by up to 50%, enhancing feedback consistency and grading efficiency.
Aptem and Graide have introduced the first AI-driven marking aid for apprenticeships, integrated within the Aptem platform. This tool aims to cut tutors’ marking time by up to 50%, enhancing feedback consistency and grading efficiency.
Unlike generic chatbots, our virtual assistant is purpose-built for each learner’s apprenticeship programme, so the level of accuracy it provides in relation to the apprenticeship standard is far higher than a standard large language model. It knows its role and continuously improves its responses, providing relevant information without the need for constant re-prompting.
It is conversational, by nature, encouraging the learner to delve into the answers and ask further questions to gain deeper understanding in relation to the programme content.
Discover how Nottingham Trent University procured Aptem in January 2024 and ran its system implementation alongside a project to integrate its student records system – Banner, into Aptem.
At Aptem, we understand that not all integration needs are built into our product from the start. While we offer standard integrations available at the switch of a button, many customers require bespoke solutions tailored to their unique processes. To address this, we’ve introduced a dedicated Technical Consultant role within our Implementation Team.
Aptem Higher Education forum members met online in May 2024 for a day of sharing best practices, guest speaker and Aptem team presentations, and Q&A.
Here’s a summary of what was covered at this meeting.
Compliance specialist David Lockhart-Hawkins joined Aptem Product Owner Rachael Stewart for a webinar to discuss the recent enhancements to Aptem Assess and the latest funding rules requirements around identifying Additional Learning Support (ALS) needs.
Hear from the Aptem team and Dom Wilkinson, Lifetime Training, how Aptem’s new AI-powered features will benefit apprenticeship providers.
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Rien Sach as Deputy CEO at Aptem. Read more to learn about Rien’s background, his new role, and how it supports Aptem’s future direction at a time when game-changing technology is set to transform the sector
Hear from the Aptem team and Dom Wilkinson, Lifetime Training, how Aptem’s new AI-powered features will benefit apprenticeship providers.
We were delighted to collaborate with UCAS to deliver a webinar covering UCAS’s transformative plans for the apprenticeship sector.
Delivered by guest speaker, Pete Milsom, UCAS Partnership Manager, the session showcased UCAS’s vision to provide parity to apprenticeships by creating one consolidated place for people to discover and access higher education and apprenticeship options.
In this interview, Annie Graham, Apprenticeship Manager at Logistics UK explains the organisation’s approach to apprenticeship delivery, her team’s experience of joining APAR, and how Aptem has enabled them to hit the ground running.
Hear from Sammy Shummo, Group Director of Apprenticeships at London South Bank University, part of the LSBU Group alongside South Bank Colleges, about the reasons for selecting Aptem Apprentice.
In this webinar, Ian Harper, Commercial & Business Development Director at Buckinghamshire New University shares his experience of being an Ofsted inspection nominee. Ian is joined by Kerry Boffey, CEO & Founder of the Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (FIN) who gives her expert views on the key themes highlighted by Ian.
Hear from Richard Alberg, Aptem’s CEO, about the positive impact AI and Large Language Models will have for apprenticeship providers.
In this webinar, Vince Hannant, Founder of business consultancy, Melior Esse, discusse 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.
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 the first of these enhancements, Aptem Checkpoint. We were joined by Ryan Palmer, CEO of YMCA and one of Aptem Checkpoint’s early adopter customers.
Aptem offers a wealth of resources designed to deliver the latest apprenticeship industry insights to APAR (formerly RoATP) providers.
Hear from a current apprentice how Aptem is supporting her in her learning journey.
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 system, is making significant investments to tackle the challenges of skills development and employment.
Aptem delivers all the tools providers need for streamlined, fully compliant apprenticeship management in one user friendly piece of software.
Building on the wealth of information found in the ‘Using Aptem to prepare for a DfE Audit eBook’, Aptem Product owner Freya Ni Chleirigh collaborated with apprenticeships and compliance expert Tony Allen, to run a session on preparing for a DfE Audit with Aptem
https://vimeo.com/859781971?share=copy Sammy Shummo unveils how Aptem has improved learner engagement through its user-friendly interface. As the Group Director of Apprenticeships
Sammy Shummo, Group Director of Apprenticeships at London South Bank University, highlights the collaborative approach to Aptem’s swift and successful
Sammy Shummo, Group Director of Apprenticeships at London South Bank University, explains how Aptem has streamlined formerly time-consuming manual administrative
Sammy Shummo, Group Director of Apprenticeships at London South Bank University, explains how reporting in Aptem has been transformative in providing
https://vimeo.com/859027646?share=copy Sammy Shummo, Group Director of Apprenticeships at London South Bank University, shares the core reasons behind choosing Aptem, how it
Aptem has been named in the 2023 EMEA Technology Fast 500, an objective and highly regarded ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology companies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Often with technology, it’s the seemingly small things that can make a huge difference. We regularly talk about the configurability that makes Aptem the system of choice for so many. But what does that really mean? Here are ten common scenarios where a little flexibility can go a long way.
Compliance specialist, David Lockhart-Hawkins (lead consultant of Lockhart Hawkins and associate of the Strategic Development Network), presented an initial summary of the changes to more than 700 Aptem customers and apprenticeship professionals from across the sector.
The first face-to-face Aptem HE Forum of 2023 brought together our network of HE Aptem customers for a packed day of sharing insights. Here’s a summary of the event, including highlights from speakers – David Lockhart-Hawkins, Zoe Bolger, and more.
Discover why Locomotivation selected Aptem as its apprenticeship delivery system. With a focus on design, compliance and partnership approach, the depth of Aptem’s capabilities provided Locomotivation with the reassurance required to deliver a successful and engaging apprenticeship experience.
Discover how CNet Training (CNet) partnered with Aptem to become a main provider of Network Cable Installer (NCI®) Apprenticeships. With a focus on quality, learner experience, and compliance, Aptem’s comprehensive features have provided CNet with the reassurance and support needed to ensure a high-quality apprenticeship experience.
Discover how B-Skill adapted quickly to Covid-19 challenges after purchasing Aptem. Hear from their Compliance Lead, Nicole Fenwick, on the proactive culture that helped them work remotely with existing and new learners.
Access guidance from apprenticeship experts about managing compliance, funding rules and quality as a APAR provider.
Do you have questions about Aptem? Check out our article, where we provide concise and informative responses to FAQs on a variety of topics.
Isla Lightfoot is Chief Marketing Officer at Aptem. In September 2022 she started the Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship with MBA at Exeter University. Here, she shares why she chose the apprenticeship route and her journey so far.
Hitharth Patel is a Business Development Manager at Aptem. He joined Aptem in 2019 as a Business Development Executive. 18 months into the role, he embarked on a Level 4 Sales Executive apprenticeship, with sales specialists, BMS Progress. In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, we share his story.
Hardeep Kondal is Digital Marketing Executive at Aptem. He joined Aptem in March 2021 to start a level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship with Just IT which, he completed in August 2022. Here Hardeep shares his experience of apprenticeships – why he chose the apprenticeship route, sharing his experience and what he learnt during the journey, and the impact and outcomes of his apprenticeship.
Dan Humphries is a CRM Data Analyst at Aptem. In January 2022 he joined Aptem as a Level 3 Data Technician Apprenticeship, but quickly transferred onto the Level 4 Data Analyst Apprenticeship when his aptitude for all things data was recognised. Here, he shared why he chose the apprenticeship route and his journey so far.
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.
This eBook explores some of the recurring ‘areas for improvement’ on which Ofsted is focusing its inspections, with a specific focus on how providers can pre-empt the scrutiny with relevant, actionable data collection. It offers practical insight into how Aptem, as your apprenticeship management system, can support you in being Ofsted-ready, throughout the inspection lifecycle.
Read about key challenges providers face when optimising their commercial course offering, and how Aptem Commercial helps to overcome them.
In our eBook ‘Are degree apprenticeships over-regulated?’, we bring together best practice advice from experts in the field about managing regulation challenges, considering knowledge, preparation, support, staffing and technology.
Learn the rules for off-the-job training in apprenticeships and how an apprenticeship management system supports OTJ management and compliance.
Our first face to face Aptem Higher Education Forum since COVID took place at the Studios in Birmingham on 11th October. Here is a summary of the day.
Individualised Learner Records (ILR) are an essential aspect of apprenticeship compliance. Training providers must ensure that ILR submission happens on time, and that the ILR contains the required information.
Compliance specialist, David Lockhart-Hawkins, highlights the key challenges of the 2022-23 apprenticeship funding rules and explains why he advocates a ‘compliance by curriculum design’ approach.
Understand why compliance is so important in apprenticeships and how Aptem’s end-to-end apprenticeship management system can help you to be compliant.
Understand why recognition of prior learning is important in apprenticeships and how Aptem’s integrated RPL calculator can help you to be compliant and increase the chances of a successful outcome.
Aptem (MWS Technology Ltd) has secured over £3m investment at a £33m valuation to evolve and expand its portfolio of EdTech products.
At Aptem, we have extensive experience of implementing digital transformation projects across the FE, university and independent learning provider apprenticeship and skills sectors. We work with sector experts in colleges to implement Aptem. Who better to try to bring together critical learning points about how to get it right?
Read our white paper to learn more.
Recruitment in the UK is currently extremely tough. In service industries such as Skills and Employability, the reality of struggling to find and retain talent to deliver high-quality programmes can be crippling. In this article, we take a look at how some of the leading providers are tackling this skills coach shortage, and remind ourselves of some common, yet relevant, recruitment best practices.
Ensuring Aptem genuinely helps our customers to maintain compliance is our highest priority. To that end, we have created some guidance FAQs questions that you can consider when implementing the funding rules, effective August 22. This will help to ensure you maintain compliance.
At Aptem, we have extensive experience of implementing digital transformation projects across the FE, university and independent learning provider apprenticeship and skills sectors. We work with sector experts in colleges to implement Aptem. Who better to try to bring together critical learning points about how to get it right?
Read our white paper to learn more.
There are many types of change, and reasons for it, that a company might pursue. Technology has become one of the biggest drivers of change, as well as a significant aid to the change process. It can be both the cause for, and a way to smooth, a change project.
Read our white paper to learn more.
Companies undergoing investment or buyout from Private Equity (PE) firms and Venture Capitalists (VC) face a high level of financial scrutiny. The spotlight is on them to drive efficiencies, reduce costs and improve operating margins. For independent training companies providing fixed-cost apprenticeship programmes, this means finding other ways to improve profitability.
Two million good-quality green jobs by 2030. Electricity to come from clean sources by 2035. Net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Sustainability commitments made by the UK are bold, as we all know they need to be, but what do these statistics, promises and pledges mean in practice for the skills and employability sector?
All learners have different needs. For the vocational training sector, this can mean differences in capability, homelife situation, workplace demands, learning preferences or, importantly, learning support needs. Without a base-level understanding of neurodiversity, curriculum teams, tutors and employers risk alienating a significant proportion of learners or would-be learners. In our industry, the engagement and progress of every learner matters. Embracing and supporting neurodiversity is a critical part of this.
Numbers of apprenticeship starts have dropped significantly since the start of the pandemic, most noticeably among young people under the age of 25, and for apprenticeships at levels 2 and 3. In this article we look at why this may be, the possible consequence of this drop, and the viable solutions that could help attract young people back to apprenticeships.
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.
More than 80 members of the Aptem Higher Education Forum recently benefited from a member-only Special Interest webinar on common themes that are cropping up in the HE sector on DfE funding rule compliance. Here is a recap of the information-packed presentation and Q&A delivered by Karl Bentley, FE Funding and Data specialist at leading auditors RSM UK.
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.
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.”
With Ofsted busy catching up on its Covid-induced backlog, many higher education institutions (HEIs) are rightly anticipating inspections over the coming months.
It’s been less than a year since Ofsted took the reins from the Office for Students for assessing the quality of higher-level apprenticeships. All eyes were on Worcester University when it became the first HEI to have its report published in July 2021. Since then, inspection reports have slowly been filtering through, with mixed outcomes.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MWS Technology is the company behind the award-winning Aptem vocational training and employability products. It has secured additional funding from
Analytics are essential to deliver on defining characteristics of high quality learning programmes. Here, we explore how and where analytics can play an important role in the delivery of effective learning programmes.
Following the Employment and Skills Convention 2021, Richard Alberg, Chief Executive Officer at Aptem reflects on the event and the heightened focus required to connect more jobseekers to the right provisions, at the right time.
Mike Jones from City College Plymouth and David Devine from Aptem discussed the benefits of remotely enrolling college students. Mike shared learnings and advice gained from using this system throughout the pandemic period, to continue delivering a high quality enrolment experience for students.
Programme flexibility is essential in ensuring learners’ individual needs are met. That’s why Aptem has in-built customisation available, which gives
Are you data rich but insight poor in your organisation? Mark Abrahams, Head of Research at Aptem, joined Kerry Boffey
The UK government has introduced an array of initiatives around employability and skills. Over the past year, and as a result
In a constantly shifting employment landscape, lifelong learning is essential. Not just to fill emerging job roles, but to ensure
The methodology involved in Lifetime Training’s procurement of an apprenticeship delivery platform In March 2021, following a year long procurement
The UK government has introduced an array of initiatives around employability and skills. Over the past year, and as a result of the pandemic, it
Read Aptem’s recently published a white paper illustrating the state of skills, referencing statistical data and outlining three ways skills matter to individuals and the economy.
2020 was a year of unprecedented change and transformation. Are we now to accept employability inequality as the new normal?
Apprenticeships have long been recognised as a key stepping stone for young people moving from school into work. The structured
Despite widespread economic turbulence, unemployment may not reach the crisis levels predicted last year. But issues such as underemployment, a
Aptem has been named winner at the British Data Awards 2021! It took the prize in the ‘SME of the
Learners are unique and their requirements for learning journeys vary. This is why flexible, personalised approaches to learner programme delivery
Lifetime, the largest training provider in the UK, has signed up to EdTech SaaS platform Aptem to deliver apprenticeships and Kickstart programmes. The contract was signed in March 2021 and Lifetime and Aptem are working closely to onboard Lifetime’s apprenticeship programmes, alongside the successful implementation and launch of Kickstart in April 2021.
Since the pandemic started, global mental health has declined significantly. Alongside the stresses caused by chronic uncertainty, isolation and grief, rising unemployment has contributed to a drop in mental wellbeing in populations around the world.
Here, we examine how mental health has changed as a result of the coronavirus, how this converges with experiences of unemployment, and what jobseekers and employers can do to safeguard themselves and others.
Heading into the coronavirus pandemic, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups already faced discrimination and inequality, including in access to work. Evidence shows that the virus and its many consequences have also disproportionately affected BAME people. For young people in general, Covid-19 has been particularly challenging, disrupting education, causing and exacerbating mental health issues, and limiting their employment prospects. At the intersection of these two groups, BAME young people are in a particularly challenging position.
The past year has seen change sweep across every aspect of our lives. The combination of a global pandemic with the rise of automation and an increasingly desperate environmental crisis has impacted everything from how we live and learn to how we work. The shift to remote working is here to stay, with implications for jobseekers, employees and employers alike. There is an opportunity to increase inclusivity, diversity, happiness and productivity. Yet there are also risks tied up with this way of working, from legal implications to its effect on company culture. By exploring these nascent benefits and risks we can move forwards with an awareness that will support the creation of a better future of work for us all.
The UK faces not just a huge skills deficit, but rising unemployment that’s particularly concentrated in sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, including hospitality, travel and retail. For large numbers of newly unemployed people the path back to work will involve a career change. Whether that means transitioning within a sector to a different role – shaped by new health and safety protocols and increasing automation – or a sidestep into a completely new industry where growth is predicted to continue, individuals will need to identify the skills they have and those they need to get hired.
The impact of global warming and other environmental disasters have created an impetus for change. For the ‘green industrial revolution’ to be delivered, we need urgent investment in green skills.
2020 has been a challenging year. COVID-19 has dramatically accelerated unemployment and had a disproportionate effect on young people, with youth employment falling to its lowest rate since 2014. It has also stalled progress being made in closing the disability employment gap.
On 1 April 2021, after nearly four years of lobbying, Ofsted will formally take over the reins of university degree apprenticeship inspections across all levels of study through to level 7. We explore the view that university Ofsted inspections are more opportunity than risk.
Before Covid-19 hit, things were starting to look up for women at work. Equality was becoming more of a concrete possibility and less of a hazy dream. But this achievement has quickly been undermined by the disproportionate effects of the pandemic on working women.
2020 has been a challenging year. COVID-19 has dramatically accelerated unemployment and had a disproportionate effect on young people, with youth employment falling to its lowest rate since 2014. It has also stalled progress being made in closing the disability employment gap.
Apprenticeship providers are rightly interested in tracking learner progress. But what kind of data and tools do management need to get the facts rather than a well-meaning fiction?
Diversity and inclusion are pressing issues in employability. Technology can help deliver on this agenda by permitting real flexibility and personalisation. Read on to find our how.
This month we hosted our Higher Education (HE) User Forum, bringing together the Aptem Team and university clients to share insight and knowledge, discuss pressing issues and gather feedback on Aptem.
The Independent Commission on the College of the Future has published the findings of its investigation into how FE colleges should be structured to address the skills deficit and transform the life chances of individuals in the UK.
Understanding human psychology is invaluable when supporting someone effectively on their journey into work. Employability providers possess increasingly large datasets that, if used well, contain significant insights that could support the provision of a better service. The challenge for a sector under increasing pressure is knowing how to extract meaningful direction from the mountains of data at their fingertips.
Personalisation has become a buzzword in employability. But has the employment sector achieved personalisation and, if not, what should it look like?
The way we learn needs to reflect how we live and work. Our daily lives are a seamless blend of physical and digital interactions. Schedules are increasingly flexible, with portfolio careers on the rise and continuous learning becoming a more common feature of our routines.
Developments in education technology represent an opportunity to prepare young people and adults with the skills and capabilities they will need to thrive in the future. Not only that, but for further education colleges and independent training providers, EdTech offers solutions that can help them successfully address the UK skills gap and guide students into promising careers.
Here, we will explore what EdTech offers the further education sector and explain why it’s time to embrace the confluence of technology and learning.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), as part of its Commercial Agreement for the Provision of Employment and Health Related Services (CAEHRS), prioritises the role of digital solutions to employability programmes. How do providers ensure that the digital solutions they offer are cybersecure?
The UK’s A Level results were unusually disastrous this year, throwing into doubt our children’s futures as well as university admissions processes. What went wrong?
The University of Nottingham signed up to Aptem in June 2019 and used it to manage their degree apprenticeship programmes from September 2019. In this case study, we talk about their journey of implementation and how Aptem is improving their administration and delivery.
The Aptem Higher Education User Forum, made up of Aptem’s University clients with representation from UVAC, met in July 2020 to discuss a range of sector issues and share insights.
The employment services market has suddenly shifted. Pre-March 2020, the sector contained jobseekers, many of whom were not job ready and a fairly long way from the employment market. In Autumn 2020, we will be looking at very large volumes of broadly job ready jobseekers, who may need some retraining.
Jobcentre claimants have risen from 1.24 million to 2.8 million over the course of the UK pandemic, the Guardian has revealed, a rise some analysts said was the worst in over 100 years.
Learning Curve Group (LCG) is a national training and education company, working with training providers, employers and learners to help them achieve success.
Aptem is delighted to announce that it has been awarded £46,531 from Innovate UK to update its employability platform, Aptem Employ. The grant will help address rising unemployment from the Covid-19 pandemic.
YMCA Training had a long and illustrious history, having been set up during the deep recession of the 1970s to help young people to find new opportunities through training and employment. Five years ago, YMCA Training was brought into Central YMCA.
Deborah Talbot, Communications Officer at MWS, talked to Vikki Liogier, National Head of EdTech and Digital Skills at the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) about the benefits of, and barriers towards, using EdTech in colleges
A report by the Learning and Work Institute (L&W) says that the UK skills deficit will cost the country £120 billion by 2030.
Technology is impacting society and everyday life in all sectors, yet education and training lag conspicuously behind. Should the education and training sector be more technologically engaged, and what are the implications for pedagogy?
Richard Alberg, CEO of MWS Technology, published an Op-Ed in FE Week on the 11th January.
In 2020, the Aptem Area Analysis Tool was renamed as the Aptem Intelligence Dashboard (AID). This acknowledged the intelligence it
We are thrilled to announce that we have been judged to be the winner of the ICT – platforms and
Aptem customers now have more detailed insight, seamless compliance and greater control over their apprenticeship delivery with Power BI dashboards.
A report published in 2019 by the Learning and Work Institute (L&W) shows the intrinsic link between skills and productivity
Ofsted has started delivering on its new inspection framework. What can providers expect?
Ofsted visits are notoriously stressful – if you’re caught off guard, staff can end up in a panic trying to reconcile all the data and information to present to Ofsted. Aptem instils a sense of calm with a selection of features that drive, and effectively demonstrate to Ofsted, progression and development.
The UK government has consistently pushed the benefits of opening up education to the private sector. But is the private sector any better than FE and HE institutions when it comes to delivering apprenticeship training? Deborah Talbot weighs the benefits of each.
The government has announced that it is launching the first three T Levels in the Autumn of 2020. But what are T Levels, and will they help deliver the government’s skills strategy?
Providers can now lock down a scalable Learning Plan while enabling certain staff to make modifications for particular learners. MWS Technology is pleased to announce even greater functionality within Aptem’s Learning Plan, allowing providers to lock down a scalable delivery model, while having the flexibility to grant certain staff and experienced tutors with permissions to…
Our growing team needed a new space so we said goodbye to our office at Highgate Studios and have moved to Camden Town. Our new address is: 3 Harmood Grove London NW1 8DH The nearest underground stations are Chalk Farm and Camden Town on the Northern Line. We look forward to welcoming you here!
Artificial intelligence, or the rise of the smart machine, is the stuff of science fiction. But applying machine learning to apprenticeships can deliver a better learning experience, argues Mark Abrahams, Head of Research at MWS Technology.
MWS Technology (MWS) is delighted to announce the investment of over £1m from the Guinness Asset Management EIS fund and the appointment of three new board members. The investment from Guinness Asset Management will enable MWS to further develop its sales and marketing team, invest in product development and create eLearning content. Commenting on the…