Workplace training can continue whilst respecting all covid-19 safety measures. The majority of programmes have moved online into a distance learning model. Many types of software have shot up in popularity and it has also caused newcomers into this space to service the demand. Undoubtedly everyone is concerned as to whether this really substitutes the in-person teaching and training that people are used to.

Commun-IT has launched a bespoke LMS set up to accommodate an excellent learning experience for all our apprentices. It maintains a strong sense of awareness by both learner and trainer on matters of progress, hurdles and training plans. We continue to improve our systems so that we can deliver our specialist range of creative and digital courses. They are industry focused and crafted specifically to employer needs – learners get the experience that they need for their aims and their job role.

In some cases, End Point Assessment organisations (EPAOs) have allowed people to sit assessments without returning to work during the pandemic. In other cases, people cannot complete their qualification without creating evidence for all the workplace components of their training. However, EPAOs are adapting their policies, therefore there will be a resolution in all cases.

If you are furloughed, there is no better time to upskill as you can focus on training that you can take back to work to create immediate impact. If you skill up in digital marketing for instance, you would know how to generate more customers and earnings for your workplace through things like Search Engine Advertising or Social Media Campaigns.

If you are interested in better job security and future-proofing your skills for the job market, express your interest here so that one of our advisors can guide you.

Many people still do not know where Continuing Professional Development (CPD) fits into their goals. As many job roles are being challenged by digital technology, it is important to retrain in the new ways of doing things. When someone is asked to learn a new software or process at work, this is CPD. The formal way to do it is to plan it in advance, and keep it on record. Anyone with a job should maintain their own CPD record – but only some jobs make it a requirement e.g. teaching.

From the pandemic, an endless number of organisations have had to make covid-19 safety training a requirement to allow people to continue working – that is CPD too. CPD is training required for your job role to continue but more often than not, it is subject matter expertise that makes the biggest difference.

For example, when the EU launched GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), to protect people’s internet activity from being tracked without their awareness (amongst many other things), countless professionals were obliged to train up in knowledge of the changes, and skills required to uphold the laws in question.

With these things in consideration, at what age does someone stop learning? People cannot afford to stop learning because change continues to happen.

Even farming practices established for thousands of years must adapt to weather changes and environmental factors – and unfortunately some environmental factors caused by humans.

Apprenticeship training is vocational training at its best. It leads to formal qualifications with serious progression prospects. It is still funded and has an extremely low barrier to entry. You need Maths and English at Level 2 (GCSE Grade C / 4) and even if you don’t have it, the Government will also pay for you to obtain it during your apprenticeship. Age is no barrier. People of all ages are using apprenticeships for their CPD, career progression, change of job, or to pursue new jobs and opportunities that they would otherwise not be able to do.

If you want to enter a new industry, take an apprenticeship route. Commun-IT offers best in class specialist training for creative and digital skills. You can express your interest here: Select the right apprenticeship for you.

The furlough scheme by The UK Government is known as a Job Retention scheme. Take a look at how to make the most of your furloughed workforce and earn up to £3,000 per staff member through training them.

Whilst the government has sustained job roles financially as best as they could, to support livelihoods, there is no doubt that businesses, organisations and their market landscapes have entirely changed due to covid-19.

The Government has recognised both the high number of job losses despite the furlough scheme since 2020, alongside the incredibly high number of jobs at risk when furlough ends. Commun-IT recommends one very simple approach to organisations in desperate need of reducing costs. We hope that organisations can avoid losing talent, knowledge and loyal staff but implementing this approach.

We have dedicated articles for individuals on how to save their job or what to do if they have lost their job.

As an organisation, you should:

1. Firstly determine whether your salary costs must be reduced, or in actual fact, you need more productive staff to hit targets quicker.
2. Negotiate with staff in a way that you can make them an offer instead of losing them, especially if they want to stay with you.
   1. Offer the staff member new training if it assists negotiation.
      1. Training is Government-funded, worth £12-£15,000, therefore the staff member might cope with a temporary reduction in salary in lieu of a qualification.
   2. Offer the staff member a chance to change team/department/job function.
      1. There is a vast array of creative and digital skills that have led to a 36% rise in jobs in this sector. If your business can leverage these skills, it could be a game-changer: Most customers, more revenue, better processes and more. Book a call with one of our consultants to find out more.
3. Enable the staff member to work reduced hours
   1. You can also have a part-time apprentice if they can work in another role, such that overall, their work hours meet apprenticeship eligiblity criteria. Therefore, a current staff member can still undertake training but sustain their income by having a role elsewhere also. We can assist with facilitating this so do arrange a call with us if this avenue is your only option.

Read more about strategic moves you can make in our article Recruitment Practices for a Post-Covid19 Economy.

Save your job

If the following things apply to you, you are in a perfect position to save your current job:

• I prefer a salary cut than losing my job completely
• I am happy to train and improve my digital skills
• I want to train in either: creative content or IT skills

If all the above are true for your circumstances, you are in a perfect position to do one of the following:

• adapt your work in your current role to be digitally focused
• start new role with your current employer
• work in a new company

Fill in this form to tell us how we can help you.

Did you know that there are better options for your employer than to let you go?

You or any of your colleagues and team members do not need to be sacked leading to job cuts and job losses in the economy, just because your organisation or business needs to save money. Your HR department or senior staff may not need to make difficult firing decisions. You can negotiate a new contract with them, and on top of that, they can receive a cash bonus for putting you on a training programme that results in a lifelong qualification.

Do not leave your job without presenting these facts to your employer:

• Staff on furlough or in work, can undertake a government funded apprenticeship qualification (at any age) if they want creative, digital and/or IT skills.
• The employer in turn can consider the apprentice wage as well as the limited-time cash bonus to have a substantially reduced salary bill.
• Many employees would prefer new skills, training and to keep their job albeit earning a little less – but obtaining a £12,000(+) digital skills qualification is an excellent compensation in this increasingly digital economy.
• It is also the best form of continual professional development (CPD) for staff as it is an accredited qualification.
• It is the best way to re-assign staff to other departments and give staff a chance to do more in the business. Admin staff who know the business inside out could get involved in social media for instance.

Email them this link on How to save jobs and afford staff after furlough ends.

Look at our qualifications and select the right one for you, then make your mind up to deliver the ‘key business benefits’ from that course in your workplace. See the section under the ‘key business benefits’ for Creative Content Producers or for IT Technicians – the two most in-demands skillsets by jobs since covid-19 began.

Tell your colleagues because typically everyone can benefit from this career change if their job is at risk.

If you are already in a job and need assistance explaining this opportunity, you can email outreach@commun-it.org.uk for help!

It is easy for you and your employer so do not hesitate, get in touch.

The Government have stepped up, but it expires soon!

£3,000 for every apprentice trained. An apprentice can be a current member of staff, or a new hire.

The incentive does not have to be paid back and can be spent as needed, such as towards the salary of the apprentice in question. If you observe that an apprentice’s National Minimum Wage, due to being unqualified, is £4.30 (as of April 2021), the average hourly rate becomes less than £3.00 if the cash incentive is taken into account.

The purpose behind the apprenticeship is that:

• the skills learned are relevant to the job role
• evidence can be produced of skills being applied

This makes apprenticeship training the best form of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as it comes with a qualification and guarantees the use of all new knowledge and skills.

The Government is driving more effective work skills and stimulating job opportunity, and Commun-IT is a digital skills specialist Approved Training Provider. Employers must formally have their apprentices start training with a Commun-IT programme before the end of March 2021. You can browse our courses; We highly recommend IT skills or Digital Marketing and Content Production skills for businesses to bounce back from Covid-19 in a strategic and long-term fashion.

You can read also about our bespoke course in Content Marketing which can drive business outcomes from the first month!

How can you say no to a new member of staff for 32 hours a week for a full year, at a cost of circa £4,000? Especially when Commun-IT can take care of recruitment for you!

Book a call with one our specialist advisors to get started as quickly as possible.

Large companies have been able to recruit and train at scale, thereby being awards hundreds of thousands of pounds in incentive payments. We highly encourage SMEs to benefit from this scheme before it expires. Further details and sources are referenced in our article: Government cash incentives for employees for training their employees