1. Business benefits to training:The Apprenticeship Route How to pay for your employees training

2. Introduction Why is training important to businesses? What are the benefits of investing in training? Return on Investment Impact of the credit crunch on training Questions a business should ask itself How can training providers help business identify and deliver training requirements? What help advice and funding is available? About Apprenticeships

3. Why is training important to businesses? High quality training and development is one of the cornerstones of any successful business today A highly skilled workforce makes an organisation adaptable to change and can help protect the business against changes in the economy Developing a highly skilled workforce helps ensure businesses operate competitively, aids retention and makes businesses more productive Training gives your employees the skills and awareness to do their jobs effectively, and the initiative and ambition to drive your business forward

4. Businesses need to see clear benefits and return on investment Only a third (35 per cent) of employers describe the skill levels of their staff as good According to Government figures, 2.4 million people go to work every day without the skills they require to do their job proficiently Over half (53 per cent) of firms are concerned that they may not be able to find sufficient skilled individuals to meet their future recruitment needs

5. Poor basic skills has significant consequences for businesses: 40 per cent report poor customer service 34 per cent lower productivity 50 per cent of Hosp. Employers say they are dissatisfied with management skills 48 per cent of companies have recruited from overseas in the previous 12 months to cover specific skills shortages

6. The benefits of training Raising skills levels improves productivity for 28 per cent of firms and boosts customer satisfaction for nearly a quarter (23 per cent) Over 45 per cent of staff say that they would feel more motivated if their organisation invested in their skills Getting the right skills in place cuts waste and boosts profitability –A typical 50-employee company could save £165,000 every year by filling the gaps in its employees’ skills

7. Impact of the credit crunch on training Training can be a victim of an economic downturn or part be of the solution Squeeze on training budgets but an increased emphasis on the retention of core personnel –Now is not the time to lose employees to competitors that are continuing to recognise and invest in their greatest asset – people –Training benefits morale, efficiency, improves capacity, business flexibility and profitability Maximise the potential of existing employees

8. Questions a business should ask itself –Where is the business now and where does it want to be? – Whats the ROI in relation to Training and people development -Purpose ?Process ? Payoff? –Does the business have a list of goals and targets, and are they realistic?How are they related to Tand D –Does the business understand the requirements it has of its people and the expectations its people have of the business ? –How will the effectiveness of training be measured and evaluated? What gets measured gets done !

9. Helping businesses to succeed Training providers work with businesses to: –Identify the strengths and weaknesses of an organisation –Work through funding options and advise you on how to tap into available funding –Identify training requirements and where training can add value to an organisation –Develop and tailor a training programme to address specific business needs –Evaluate the success of that training

10. What Government help and advice is available? Government support –Train to Gain: access to Government funding for training and free impartial advice service to employers in England of all size and sectors www.traintogain.co.ukwww.traintogain.co.uk –Apprenticeships: No matter how large or small your organisation, Apprenticeships give you the chance to develop the skilled staff you need for your business www.apprenticeships.org.ukwww.apprenticeships.org.uk –Employer recognition programme: The Government is working with employers to enable them to turn their in-house training into national qualifications www.qca.org.uk/recognitionwww.qca.org.uk/recognition

11. Apprenticeships have been and continue to be a key part of Government funded provision A new media campaign is about to be launched and a new National Apprenticeship Service will shortly be created focusing on Employers and providers A Free Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service was launched this month offering employers the opportunity in partnership with providers to upload their vacancies and tie in with Apprenticeship provision for new employees. Benefits

12. The Apprenticeship Route offers A skills check for your business and employees to maximize efficiency and profitability Qualification for your employees: to motivate your staff and improve their competence-occupational and Key Skills Quality training and skills advice service that will be flexible and responsive and offered at a time and place to suit your business needs (normally at your premises) Benefits

13. A dedicated and competent work -Based Assessor to work with the employer and their staff members. A comprehensive Training plan that can be developed to fit the organisations needs for the development of its’ staff and Business plan objectives Easily measured milestones for achievement and Success stories. Minimisation of HR’s time and involvement in the Training process but maximisation of involvement in achieving Staff Training plan objectives. Effectively increasing TP Budgets by maximising funded provision or decreasing them but not cutting development for staff and business.

14. Training Programmes include Funded Vocational Qualifications via Apprenticeship Routes: Food & Drink Service, Professional Cookery, Multi-skilled Hospitality,Housekeeping,Front of House Levels 2 and 3 Supervisory and management, Customer Service, NVQ level 3 Qualifications and Team Leading level 2 Business Administration Levels 2 and 3,ITQ Level 2 (Key skills in Literacy and Numeracy included all levels )

15. Short bespoke training courses These could include, for example, VRQs in: Certificate in Hospitality Customer Service Certificate in Hospitality Selling Certificate in Conflict Handling Certificate in Customer Service (Service Sector) Certificate in Selling