Help to Access Apprenticeship Funding
MSE is working with the Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) and Marine East to help marine companies take on new apprentices. Under the banner of UK Marine Network (UKMN), these three organisations are targeting the barriers that have previously limited the take-up of apprenticeships by many marine SMEs.
Businesses involved in the marine leisure sector and its supply chains can benefit from a programme by Skills Active, the sector skills council for sport and outdoor sectors. Under this programme, MSE member companies can access advice on how best to meet specific apprentice requirements, and what funding they are eligible to receive in order to offset the costs of an apprentice.
In addition, all UKMN members are offered membership of SkillsActive's new Group Training Association (GTA). This enables employers in England running small to medium enterprises to take on more new staff as apprentices. It does this by creating partnerships between employers so they can access funding and discounts normally only available to bigger companies.
Marine companies (from all sectors of the marine industries) can also benefit from support available by an Apprentice Training Agency. Such an agency takes on all the hassle of finding and employing an apprentice, on behalf of the marine company taking on the apprentice. This eliminates a major risk for employers, which in the past has discouraged many firms from offering apprenticeships. MSE members can benefit from the marine Apprentice Training Agency run by its partner CMN. In addition, firms located in the Solent may wish to consider the 'Apprentices 4 Business' agency set up by the Solent LEP.
Firms interested in any of the support outlined above are invited in the first instance to contact David Rea by email:
david@marinesoutheast.co.uk
Please provide your contact details and the number of employees in your business, so David can get back to you with advice on how to pursue the next step.
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