62 NHS Trusts join AELP strengthening the employer and provider voice on the apprenticeship levy reforms

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) is delighted to announce that under the auspices of Health Education England (HEE), 62 NHS Trusts have today become AELP members with more Trusts expected to follow.  HEE has also agreed to become a Patron of AELP.

The Trusts, all of whom are on the government’s apprenticeship register, currently employ between 50 and 350 apprentices each and these numbers will grow, not least because nursing and nursing associate apprenticeships are taking off.

With debate raging on how well the apprenticeship levy reforms are working, this important development will further strengthen the collective voice of employers and training providers that AELP represents when articulating solutions to government on aspects of the reforms that need improving.

At the AELP national conference in June, AELP levy-paying employer members, such as British Airways, IBM and Grant Thornton, outlined to delegates their apprenticeship recruitment strategies and offered their views on the reforms.  Now AELP’s public sector employer representation has received a major boost with Health Education England and the NHS Trusts joining.  

AELP CEO Mark Dawe said:

‘AELP is really proud that so many NHS Trusts and Health Education England are becoming members.  They are joining at a critical point in the roll-out of the apprenticeship reforms and there is no doubt that AELP’s voice is strengthened when we are discussing the reforms with the government to have public and private sector employers united with providers on the big issues.  Having NHS Trusts on board across the country will also be a major advantage in talking to the devolved areas on apprenticeships and other skills programmes.

‘This will be of great benefit to existing AELP members, many of whom already work in collaboration with the Trusts, enabling new partnerships to develop across our membership.’

Lucy Hunte, National Programme Manager – Apprenticeships at Health Education England and a guest speaker at an AELP conference in November 2017, said:

‘HEE and the NHS Trusts on the register recognise how effectively AELP has represented its provider members and increasingly its growing number of employer members since the apprenticeship reform process began.  HEE will continue to work with Trusts on workforce development strategies to ensure they reach their public sector targets and fully utilise the levy whilst leading on the development and implementation of over 50 Health specific Trailblazers. We are delighted that this arrangement will allow Trusts access to the excellent resources from AELP and the opportunity to build strong partnerships with providers delivering in the health sector.’

About Health Education England (HEE): Health Education England (HEE) exists for one reason only: to support the delivery of excellent healthcare and health improvement to the patients and public of England by ensuring that the workforce of today and tomorrow has the right numbers, skills, values and behaviours, at the right time and in the right place.

Health Education England works across England to deliver high quality education and training for a better health and healthcare workforce.  We employ nearly 2,000 people in a variety of leadership, education and support roles who are based in local teams across England.

The HEE National Talent For Care team have a specific focus on apprenticeships and widening participation and have been actively involved in developing over 50 new Health specific Trailblazers to date.  We work closely with NHS Trusts nationally supporting them on all aspects of apprenticeships.