UK Apprenticeships Digital Conference - Maximising Funding, Delivery and Enhancing Employer Partnerships

Wednesday 10th February 2021

Digital Event, Broadcast Live

Key Points
  • Exploring the policy landscape and updates to 2020/2021 funding, allowances, and incentives
  • Reviewing the impact of COVID-19 on the uptake and delivery of apprenticeship
  • Best Practice: designing and delivering award-winning apprenticeship programmes
  • Developing effective employer partnerships and a strong degree apprenticeship function
  • Exploring end point assessment best practices and updates to EQAs delivery
  • Click Here to Secure your Place
Overview
Confirmed Speakers:

  • Toby Perkins MP, Shadow Minister for Apprentices and Lifelong Learning, UK Parliament
  • Jane Hickie, Managing Director, Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP)
  • Ann Potterton, Head of Apprenticeships, BT *Top 10 Apprenticeship Employer*
  • Anna Morrison CBE, Director, Amazing Apprenticeships
  • Oscar Watkins, IPPR
  • Lois Simon, Learning and Development Executive, Softcat Plc *Top 10 Apprenticeship Employer*
  • Dr Rebecca Conway, Head of Policy and Strategy, Federation of Awarding Bodies End Point Assessment Organisations Group
  • Howard Deighton, Apprenticeship Program Manager, Siemens *Top 25 Apprenticeship Employer*
  • Sarah Flynn, Associate Director of Learning and Teaching & Chair, University of Hertfordshire & ASET
  • Jocelyn Simmons, Senior Quality Manager for End Point Assessments, Charted Management Institute (CMI)
  • Braden Connolly, Director of Product and Services, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)

    While the total number of apprenticeships being delivered and starting nationally has been on the decline*, there remains a real opportunity to leverage apprenticeships to boost social mobility, drive innovation and upskill whole industries.

    Westminster Insight’s UK Apprenticeships Digital Conference will bring together key stakeholders from across government, business, and the education sector to discuss how to deliver high quality apprenticeships, maximise the use of the apprenticeship levy, and plug internal and national skill gaps.

    You will hear from government representatives on updates to the apprenticeship levy, the 2020/2021 funding rules, incentives, allowances across the UK. This event will also explore the impact of COVID-19 apprenticeship delivery, widening participation and social mobility.

    Attend to hear from award winning SMEs and industry leading levy-paying employers on how to develop, design and deliver high quality apprenticeships in partnership with providers which bolster recruitment strategies, strengthen talent pipelines and onboard dynamic talent familiar with the employer’s values and culture.

    This event will also feature contributions from leading a higher education institution on how to develop an effective degree apprenticeship function, embrace degree apprenticeships as core business and forge successful employer/provider relationships

    Lastly, this event will explore best practice for End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO's), tracking and monitoring apprentices’ progress, EPA delivery and updates to External Quality Assurance.

    *Institute of Employers, 25th March 2020
Agenda
Start

09:00 - 09:10
Chair's Opening Remarks

 
Speakers

Jane Hickie Managing Director, Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP)

Read profile

09:10 - 09:50
Keynote Address: Achieving National Success Through Apprenticeships

 
  • Reviewing the policy landscape and government targets for apprenticeships
  • Leveraging the opportunities presented by apprenticeships to boost social mobility, drive industrial innovation, and address national skill gaps
  • Exploring the updated 2020/2021 funding rules and updated allowances and incentives
  • Exploring how COVID-19 has changed the skills needs for SME’s and levy paying employers across the UK
  • Building the brand confidence of apprenticeships to proactively encourage the uptake of apprenticeships nationally
09:30 – 09:50 Questions and Discussions
Speakers

Toby Perkins MP Shadow Minister for Apprentices and Lifelong Learning, UK Parliament

Read profile

09:50 - 10:50
Case Studies: Maximising the Government Levy

 
  • Maximising opportunities for investment by ensuring organisation-wide understanding of the Apprenticeship Levy
  • Utilising apprenticeships to drive workforce, recruitment, and organisational transformation strategies
  • Partnering effectively with providers to personalise the apprenticeship function to meet business needs
  • Factoring the Ofsted process in apprenticeship design to ensure learner success and compliance with Ofsted and Employer Provider Rules
10:30 – 10:50 Questions and Discussions
Speakers

Ann Potterton Head of Apprenticeships, BT

Read profile

Lois Simon Learning and Development Executive - Apprentice Lead, Softcat Plc

Read profile

10:50 - 11:20
Building the Capacity of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to Offer Apprenticeships

 
  • Exploring the operational and financial challenges for SMEs in offering higher and degree apprenticeships and sharing solutions on how to overcome hurdles
  • Collaborating with employers to minimise the barriers SME’s experience and support the development of regional apprenticeship offerings
  • Providing HR support on behalf of employers to reduce the strain on minimally resources administration departments and offset costs
  • Centralising networks of stakeholders and apprenticeship opportunities to seamless connect apprentices, employers and providers
11:10 – 11:20 Questions and Discussions
Speakers

Oscar Watkins Head of Construction, Institute of Public Policy and Research

Read profile

11:20 - 11:30
Break

 

11:30 - 12:30
Panel Discussion: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Delivery of Apprenticeships

 
  • Reviewing the impact of COVID-19 on the uptake and generation of apprenticeships across the UK
  • Exploring strategies and software employed to enable distance-learning and the remote support of apprentices unable to attend the workplace or educational setting
  • Exploring how COVID-19 has changed the skills needs for SME’s and levy paying employers across the UK
  • Leveraging opportunities presented by COVID-19 to upskill and support the development of staff
  • Ensuring equal access to apprenticeship opportunities for underrepresented groups and communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 to drive social mobility
Speakers

Anna Morrison CBE Director, Amazing Apprenticeships

Read profile

Howard Deighton Apprenticeship Manager, Siemens

Read profile

Braden Connolly Director of Products and Services, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)

Read profile

12:30 - 13:15
Case Study: Developing an Effective Degree Apprenticeships Function with Employer Collaboration

 
  • Exploring the challenges in offering degree apprenticeships to local SMEs and sharing potential solutions
  • Embracing degree apprenticeships as core business to create a strong offering for employers and learners
  • Exploring best practice in cultivating and maintaining successful employer/provider relationship
  • Developing a successful apprenticeship function with internal stakeholders to enrich the provision of apprenticeships and establish partnerships with employers
13:05 – 13:15 Questions and Discussions
Speakers

Sarah Flynn Associate Director of Learning and Teaching, University of Hertfordshire

Read profile

Gilmar Queiros Head of Skills and Apprenticeships, University of Hertfordshire

Read profile

13:15 - 14:00
Joint Session: Delivering Effective End Point Assessments and Achieving Regulatory Compliance

 

  • Exploring EQA, the changes underway and their impact on apprentices, employers and EPAOs
  • Exploring updates relating to the expansion of Ofqual’s and OfS’s involvement in EQA to enable EPAOs to meet regulatory requirements
  • Evaluating delivery options in the context of COVID-19 to deliver appropriate, accessible, and practical end point assessments
  • Interpreting EPA plans effectively to deliver standardised assessment methodology, robust judgements of occupational competence, and meet employer requirements
13:45 – 14:00 Questions and Discussions
Speakers

Katerina Cleaver CMgr MCMI Assessment Development Manager, Chartered Management Institute

Read profile

Dr Rebecca Conway Head of Policy and Strategy, Federation of Awarding Bodies

Read profile

14:00 - 14:05
Chair's Closing Remarks

 
Speakers

Jane Hickie Managing Director, Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP)

Read profile

End
Speakers

Katerina Cleaver CMgr MCMI Assessment Development Manager, Chartered Management Institute

Read profile

Braden Connolly Director of Products and Services, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)

Read profile

Dr Rebecca Conway Head of Policy and Strategy, Federation of Awarding Bodies

Read profile

Howard Deighton Apprenticeship Manager, Siemens

Read profile

Sarah Flynn Associate Director of Learning and Teaching, University of Hertfordshire

Read profile

Jane Hickie Managing Director, Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP)

Read profile

Anna Morrison CBE Director, Amazing Apprenticeships

Read profile

Toby Perkins MP Shadow Minister for Apprentices and Lifelong Learning, UK Parliament

Read profile

Ann Potterton Head of Apprenticeships, BT

Read profile

Gilmar Queiros Head of Skills and Apprenticeships, University of Hertfordshire

Read profile

Lois Simon Learning and Development Executive - Apprentice Lead, Softcat Plc

Read profile

Oscar Watkins Head of Construction, Institute of Public Policy and Research

Read profile

Venue details

Digital Event Broadcast Live

Speakers
X Close