Early on, we saw the opportunity to be an employer/provider and believed we could fulfil the criteria of the new Apprenticeship Levy. Last year we gained a direct grant from the Skills Funding Agency and set about getting ‘Levy-ready’. Now both the Department for Education and the SFA list GLL as a top-quality training provider in the new register. We’re all set.
Our belief in our suitability to apply for employer/provider status arose from knowing we had a great infrastructure of mapped internal training to awarding body standards, highly qualified staff and efficient systems. All these are needed to design, implement and deliver the new employer-led standards.
GLL offers a diverse range of entry-point training by introducing new apprenticeship pathways in aquatics, tennis and libraries among others. We can also deliver the levy’s ‘stretch’ development programmes – such as our award-winning GLL Academy scheme – that we map and align against trailblazer standards. These additional strings have helped our status.
A distinct benefit of being an employer/provider is that we can deliver the programme ‘the GLL way’, rather than using a more generic training provider solution. This ensures we embed our values and beliefs into the programme content and can deliver a clear career pathway for our apprentices. We’re also able to create a new career opportunity for our own staff at levels ranging from skills developer to internal quality auditor up to a national apprenticeship manager.
Levy-paying employers who have the infrastructure, staff talent, quality internal programmes and commitment from the top should seek support (we work with Active IQ) and aim for employer/provider status.