The Cost of going to University

The Guardian newspaper has compiled a list of the seven "hidden costs" of going to university. Read the article here.

The Government's Apprenticeship "Vision"

The government, in its report, English Apprenticeships: our 2020 vision, has said it would create 200,000 new public sector Apprenticeships. It is also outlining plans to improve the quality of Apprenticeships and achieve a target of 3 million Apprenticeship places by 2020. The Apprenticeship Levy will be introduced in April 2017, set at 0.5% of the employer’s pay bill. Providers and colleges are expected to benefit from an increase in apprenticeship spending to £900 million by 2019-20. 

The government also said that it will establish a new ‘Institute of Apprenticeships’ to regulate their quality, which will be led by an independent chair, supported by a small board made up primarily of employers, business leaders and their representatives.  [ source: GTAssociates ]

Apprenticeships in Hertfordshire

Here is an update (provided by Youth Connexions) of Apprenticeships within Hertfordshire in December 2015: 

Apprenticeship vacancies:

• 236 Employers offering 312 opportunities
• 81% Intermediate Level
• 19% Advanced Level

Wages: 

• Average wage £154 per week
• Approx. 94% paying above the National Minimum Wage (NMW)
• Wage ranges from NMW (£3.30 per hour) up to £350 p/wk.
• Highest paying: £350 (AA Retail Agency Department Apprentice with Collins Grice Long Ltd in Baldock)

Most Popular Sectors: 

• Business, administration and law (38% of vacancies) 
• Retail and commercial enterprise (28% of vacancies)

How to "ace" your next interview ...

The Government's 'Vision for Apprenticeships in 2020'

On 7th December the government published it’s Apprenticeship Vision for 2020 and how they plan to achieve the 3 million Apprenticeships over the next five years, including forcing large public sector bodies to employ apprentices – and make sure that they make up at least 2.3% of their workforce – creating an extra 200,000 apprentices by 2020.

The report promotes the “employer-led” approach and introduces a new independent “Institute for Apprenticeships”, made up of employers, business leaders and their representatives who will regulate the quality of Apprenticeships.

The report further clarifies English and Maths qualification requirements within Apprenticeships levels: “We must ensure apprentices have the literacy and numeracy skills they need for employment…That is why all apprenticeships include English and Maths at their heart, through a choice of GCSE or Functional Skills qualifications depending on what is most appropriate for the apprentice and their programme, if these are not already achieved:

• Level 2 apprentices are required to achieve Level 1 in English and Maths to complete their apprenticeship and then must work towards Level 2;
• All Level 3 and 4 apprentices must achieve Level 2 in English and Maths prior to taking their end-point assessment.”

Opportunities at AECOM

AECOM, worldwide provider of professional technical and management support services, is recruiting for Trainees and Apprenticeship positions from 16+ in their St. Albans office. There are lots of vacancies available, with incorporated on-the-job training as well as being assigned to a suitable College course. If you are interested an Open Evening is being held on Thursday 3rd December 2015, starting from 5.00pm. Email openevening2015.uki@aecom.com if you would like to attend.

Recovering Jobs Market

The Hays recruitment agency has said that a recovering jobs market, a UK skills shortage and an increase in business confidence, will put pressure on employers to increase salaries next year, with one in five employers expected to increase pay above 2.5%. Hays surveyed 20,000 employers and employees in the UK. The latest survey by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation found that 80% of businesses plan to hire permanent staff in the next three months, and 76% plan to increase headcount in the medium term. A shortage of contract/temporary workers is expected for technical and engineering roles (16%), construction roles (11%) and driving/distribution roles (11%). [ source: GTAssociates ]