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BIS appoints apprenticeships advisor

A review into the benefits of apprenticeship programmes for SMEs is being carried out by BIS.

Published by Tim Hill

The Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) has announced the appointment of social entrepreneur and successful businessman Jason Holt as the head of a new employer-led review into the benefits of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) taking on apprentices.

It will entail Mr Holt leading an assessment of the businesses benefits offered by this group, with the aim of building on initiatives which are already being implemented by the government to promote the uptake of more apprenticeship schemes.

These measures include new employer incentive payments, the simplification of guidance for SMEs in the creation of apprenticeship programmes, removing Skills Funding Agency health and safety requirements on providers that go beyond regulatory requirements and reducing the time taken to advertise an apprentice vacancy to one month.

Mr Holt commented: “It is vital that we make the apprenticeship route as accessible as possible for SMEs.

“As the owner of several such companies, including an academy, I hope that I can use my experience to add value and make a positive and practical contribution to something so fundamental in the growth of business.”

The review is to be carried out over the coming months, with Mr Holt to present his findings to the government in May this year.

Skills minister John Hayes added that Mr Holt’s experience as head of the Holts Academy of Jewellery – a not-for-profit training academy – makes him the perfect candidate to head up this important review.

BIS also this week launched a new mentoring initiative for SME owners as part of the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative, with the department keen to see more mentors volunteering to help improve the performance one of the most important areas of the UK business sector.

In total, the scheme is keen to recruit 15,000 mentors to help SMEs across the UK to improve their businesses.

Please contact Matt Meyer, head of services for businesses, for further information or call on 01223 225292