Employers in the Black Countrys High Value Manufacturing (HVM) sector are being offered a new Apprentice Wage Subsidy by the Black Country Skills Factory if they commence a Level 3 engineering apprenticeship from January 2014. The Skills Factory will share information about the new Level 3 Progression Subsidy at a FREE Breakfast Surgery on Tuesday 4 February 2014.
The Black Country Skills Factory is an employer-led project supported by government funding whose aim is to address the skills shortages in the HVM sector in the Black Country, the only scheme of this kind across the UK to focus specifically on the HVM sector.
The new wage subsidy, which has now been launched, is an extension of the current scheme and will offer £1,250 to Black Country SMEs where an existing Level 2 engineering apprentice progresses to Level 3 from January 1st 2014, or where a company takes on a new Level 3 apprentice.
Black Country SMEs looking to find out more are invited to register to attend a free Apprenticeship Breakfast Surgery on 4 February from 7.45am at The Village Hotel, Dudley. At the meeting the Skills Factory will provide an overview of the Progression Subsidy, outline how companies can get involved and crucially how companies, and employees, can benefit from the scheme.
Since June 2013, the Skills Factory has supported 24 Black Country SMEs with their engineering apprentices; an investment of approximately £28,500. It is hoped that the initiative will see an uptake of higher level and advanced apprentices within the Black Country and promote apprentices as a valuable way to help eliminate projected skills gaps in the industry, by encouraging and growing new talent in the area.
Colin Parker, Project Director, The Black Country Skills Factory said: To continue to address the skills shortages in the Black Country HVM sector, the Skills Factory is looking to increase the number of engineering apprentices at Level 3. The new wage subsidy is to help HVM employers with the continuing costs of apprenticeships whilst building their skilled workforces of the future.
We are inviting companies to find out more on 4 February so they can understand the benefits of the subsidy. Local apprenticeship providers will also be available to answer any questions companies may have on engineering apprenticeships.
For further information and to see if your company is eligible for the Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship Progression Subsidy, visit: www.blackcountryskillsfactory.co.uk or contact Colin Parker on 07944 268709 / Jacki Lakin on 07944 268712.
To book your place on the FREE Engineering Apprenticeship Breakfast Surgery e-mail [email protected] or call 01384 471160.
Follow the Skills Factory on Twitter: @BCSkillsFactory