Freight forwarders benefit from apprenticeship service
The British International Freight Association (Bifa) says that the recent announcement that the UK government is expanding access to the apprenticeship service to employers that are not one of the existing 22,000 apprenticeship levy-payers already using the service, will be of great benefit to many of its members.
Robert Keen, director general of the trade association for the UK’s freight and logistics industry, explains that 90% of Bifa corporate members are small to medium size enterprises that do not qualify as levy-payers and have had restricted access to the apprenticeship service to date.
The early transition period, which will last until March 2020, will be an initial test phase, during which time the Education and Skills Funding Agency (Efsa) will undertake large-scale testing, seeking feedback from smaller employers and training providers.
During the transition Efsa will continue to run contracts with training providers so that smaller employers can decide how to access apprenticeship funding, joining the apprenticeship service when they feel they are ready. (mw)