UK employee benefits and outsourced payroll provider HIVE360 has launched the HIVE360 Skills Academy to support businesses to maximise the Apprenticeship Levy and expand its provision of training and development courses, solutions and resources.
The new Skills Academy provides commercial training, e-learning and access to 40 CPD accredited, free, self-development online courses.
It also offers expert apprenticeship scheme design and delivery, consultancy and Apprenticeship Levy advice, delivered in association with leading digital, leadership and management specialist training provider, GBS Apprenticeships.
Facilitated through the HIVE360’s employee digital health and wellbeing app, Engage, HIVE360 conceived the idea of a Skills Academy to continue its active role in developing the workplace of the future, address growing demand for workforce training and development, and tackle business confusion over how best to use the Apprenticeship Levy, as the company’s CEO David McCormack, explains:
“The HIVE360 Skills Academy will be an effective way for employers to engage their workforce, and in turn boost productivity, cement loyalty, and attract and retain talent.
“The Apprenticeship Levy is an excellent resource for businesses, but many are unsure about the best way to invest in the fund and risk losing access to it.
“This is where the HIVE360 Skills Academy and our partnership with GBS Apprenticeships will help. Through the Skills Academy, employers and learners can access lots of information and resources from the start and throughout their apprenticeship journey, to ensure maximum value from the Levy, from access to a range of training resources that enhance the skills of an entire team, and transform lives and businesses in the process.
“Now more than ever, continuous skills development and improving employability is a big priority for employers, with workplace training hitting its lowest level in a decade, and fewer than two-thirds of employers offering training to staff*,” he adds. “It is clear training needs to be made easily available and accessible to UK workers, for it to work efficiently and effectively in today’s way of working.”
Commenting on GBS Apprenticeships’ association with HIVE360 and provision of apprenticeship scheme consultancy and training available from the new HIVE360 Skills Academy, the company’s Operations Director, Penny Guard, says: “GBS Apprenticeships is delighted to be entering into partnership with HIVE360. The Apprenticeship Levy is a highly valuable resource available to employers to fund their apprenticeship training, and this partnership will assist businesses in maximising the vital funds.
“The government recently extended the amount of time employers have to spend their levy funds from 18 to 24 months, with levy-paying employers now being able to transfer up to 25 percent of their levy funds to other employers, and working with HIVE360 enables us to ensure eligible businesses don’t miss out on the scheme.
“HIVE360 possesses the same passion and ethos for learning and development that we embrace at GBS. We are excited by the opportunity to further embed learning and development at the heart of HIVE360.”
David adds: “With a strong track record of supporting a range of public and private sector clients, from small one-off projects to multi-million-pound projects, GBS Apprenticeships are skilled and expert training partners and the perfect fit to help us deliver a total training and development solution.”
HIVE360 is an employee benefits and outsourced payroll provider that is championing a new model of employment administration for the UK market. It is leading the way in innovating employer engagement via its suite of employee benefits that match individual business requirements with a tailored, personal solution, to provide a ‘bridge’ between an employer and its workforce with pioneering technology-based solutions. The company is a GLAA (Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority) license holder and corporate member of Inspiring Workplaces.
Engage – HIVE360’s mobile, customisable engagement app and platform – gives employees access to a range of benefits and services. As well as the new training courses, it features a personal doctor, personal support helpline and care support, gym memberships, high-street, lifestyle, dining and insurance discounts, along with access to their digital payslips and a real-time workplace pension dashboard.
For more information, visit: www.hive360.com
*Department for Education’s Employer Skills Survey 2019
