Accountancy Apprenticeships - so what's changing?

Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training (CWTC) recently hosted a breakfast briefing to announce the exciting new changes to the Accountancy apprenticeship programme.

Over 25 firms attended the exclusive briefing with CWTC. The briefing highlighted the changes in accountancy apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 4 and covered the new funding arrangements, assessment requirements, and apprenticeship delivery models and how business can contribute to staff development in the new world.

Jan Ryan, Operations Director at CWCT commented: “The government is keen to improve the quality and rigour of apprenticeships so the frameworks have been replaced by ‘employer-designed’ standards. These new standards still include the AAT qualification and have been enhanced with a renewed focus on the broader job role, improving the performance of apprentices within the workplace, with enhanced assessment criteria and a 15-18 month minimum duration leading to an end point assessment.”

The new funding arrangements for apprenticeships will be accessed via the Levy for larger employers or 90% from the Education and Skills Funding Agency with a 10% contribution from business. For smaller employers (under 50 staff) employing a 16-18 year old apprentice the training is fully funded.  All employers will receive £1,000 incentive for 16-18 year old apprentices.

CWCT has joined forces with Kaplan Financial Limited as they have an established range of high quality study programmes to support students through these new challenges.  The team at CWTC can provide students with a bespoke classroom tuition, high quality support and 1:1 workplace support for portfolio development. We would urge accountancy firms to get in touch with one of our advisers to find out how these changes can assist them to train the next generation of accountants for your business.

To find out more, please contact Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training on 024 7623 1122 or email Patricia Merrett at merrett.p@cw-chambertraining.co.uk

Photo caption: The accountancy apprenticeship programme advisers from left to right: Karen Devany, Sally Lucas, Andrew Wade, Jan Ryan and Christine Giles.