Government funded NVQs and apprenticeships

Lifetime has a proven track record in accessing government funding to develop and deliver effective training programmes in the workplace to enhance the skills and knowledge of our clients’ employees. 

These government funded, work-based learning programmes – often referred to as apprenticeships – train individuals on the occupational skills they need to do their job successfully and achieve recognised qualifications. It also offers each learner the opportunity for career progression and motivates and inspires them – which is always good for staff retention.

A skilled and knowledgeable workforce will positively impact and improve your customer experience, resulting in enhanced profitability for your business and, given that these programmes are funded, it means that your training budget can go much further. A win-win situation all round.

Benefits of work-based learning

For your business:

• Training designed by employers to address the needs of their business
• Targeted competencies training
• Development of role-specific vocational qualifications
• Training and development is conducted within your facilities and with minimal disruption
• Increased staff competence and performance
• Increased staff retention and motivation
• Consistency of standards
• Improved productivity and competiveness
• Improved customer service
• Increased staff flexibility
• Support for the organisation / managers
• Minimal paperwork for all – see our ePortfolio
• Legal responsibility
• Access to funding – opportunity  to grow your training programme

For your employees:

• Nationally recognised qualifications
• Training and mentoring support for learners and managers
• Clear progression and career development
• Accreditation

More about apprenticeships

An apprenticeship includes: National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), technical certificates specific to the industry and the development of key skills.

An NVQ is a National Vocational Qualification, the standards for which are set by the Sector Skills Council for the industry. As a national qualification it is recognised by all employers as evidence that the learner is competent in meeting the national standards.

NVQs are achieved through assessment, training and mentoring in the workplace with minimum disruption to the business.

In addition to the NVQ, most apprenticeships also have one or more technical certificates, dependent upon the level. A technical certificate is also an industry recognised qualification which focuses on the knowledge and understanding that underpins the NVQ competencies.

All apprentices have the opportunity to improve their key skills, such as communication, number skills, problem solving and working with others.

Key skills are the essential skills that underpin success in education, employment, lifelong learning and development. Key skills are essential to work effectively in the health and fitness and hospitality sectors.

NVQs currently available

• Level 2 Customer Service (BTEC)
• Level 3 Customer Service
• Level 2 Front Office
• Level 2 Team Leader
• Level 2 Activity Leadership
• Level 2 Gym Instructor (REPs)
• Level 3 Advanced Gym Instructor (REPs)
• Level 2 Operational Services (ISRM Certificate)
• Level 3 Leisure Management
• Level 2 Membership Sales
• Level 3 Sales Management
• Level 2 Food and Drink
• Level 2 Food Processing and Cooking
• Level 2 Housekeeping
• Level 3 Hospitality Supervision & Leadership Diploma
• Level 3 Front Office

Eligibility for funding

Apprenticeships are available to people who are:

• aged 16-24 years and meet the criteria for funding
• working more than 16 hours per week
• not in full time education or other funded training
• do not have a degree or HND

Please note: Lifetime may offer other training courses for those team members who are not eligible for government-funded programmes. Just ask us!

Regional Trainers

Lifetime’s apprenticeships are delivered by our qualified and experience regional trainers. Each workplace will be allocated the relevant regional trainer(s) who in turn will discuss the apprenticeship opportunities with the learner to establish an Individual Learner Plan. Once agreed, the regional trainer will then visit the learner in the workplace to observe and take them through their qualification.

Visits usually take place every three weeks with the aim of completing the programme in six months.

ePortfolio

 Exclusive and unique to Lifetime is our ePortfolio which has been developed by Lifetime – and won the BECTA Award for Work-based Learning Technology in 2009 – to help learners produce an electronic portfolio of evidence which can be accessed by the learner via the web making learning more accessible and reduces paperwork to a minimum which is not only a great service to our learners but also helps the environment too!

To find out more about how Lifetime’s government funded training can improve your business’ performance simply call us or complete the contact form