A third of construction industry employers are unaware of the Apprenticeship Levy training initiative, a recent survey has found.

The Apprenticeship Levy is an automatic payment taken from all UK businesses with a wage bill of more than £3m per year. The funds are then available for two years to be spent on apprenticeship training from entry level through to master's degree level.

The YouGov survey commissioned by Alliance Manchester Business School found that 33% of employers and 48% of employees know nothing about the scheme.

Dr David Lowe, Programme Director, MSc Management Practice, Alliance Manchester Business School said: "This survey clearly shows that the limited awareness of the Apprenticeship Levy spans the entire workplace, with employees as well as business decision makers knowing very little about it and therefore the opportunities it offers.


"On one hand employers are not presenting professional development options to staff while workers are likewise not approaching their employers for the opportunity to complete management programmes because they either don't know it's a possibility, or don't think their company would support it. Meanwhile the UK is continuing to miss out on the growth opportunity provided by a highly skilled management force."

Of the employers that are aware of the scheme, 41% believe it is an underutilised training opportunity but more than a third (37%) of businesses that offer formal training report that it has made no difference to the training they offer.

Dr Lowe added: "If maintaining a quality team is really such a threat to business as leaders are telling us and leaders want to increase productivity, it is essential that this lack of formal development across businesses is addressed. Businesses must take the need to upskill their team seriously.

"Quality leadership development is an excellent way to supplement the skills of individuals with talent, technical ability or industry know-how, with those of quality management which will ultimately reap results for the business. The Apprenticeship Levy is ready and waiting to alleviate skills, retention and productivity issues for business, but leaders need to act now to join the dots."

(CM/MH)