There’s good news for companies of every size that are thinking of taking on a fork lift truck engineering apprentice. Less than a year since it was established, F-TEC has been accepted onto the new, full, Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP), which is administered by the Skills Funding Agency.
As a result, F-TEC is authorised to provide training for all fork lift truck apprentices – including those under the new levy scheme.
“From the outset, our aim has been to make life as stimulating and rewarding as possible for trainee engineers… and as straightforward and effective as possible for employers,” explains Managing Director Karl Baum.
“Gaining a place on the RoATP means businesses no longer need to look around for different training providers. They can be certain that F-TEC will deliver on all fronts.
“Moreover, because T-TEC was established by the industry, for the industry, means employers can talk to someone who understands the sector, speaks plain English and can guide them seamlessly through all the procedures – including the new levy process.
“We realise that there is still some confusion over the future of apprenticeship schemes but, put simply, if you have a wage bill in excess of £3m you will already have started contributing towards the levy.
“Therefore, it’s important to ensure you benefit from those payments by setting up training programmes to draw down funding in the allowable timeframe. We are already helping a number of major players in the industry to do just that.
“If, like the vast majority of employers, you aren’t eligible to pay the levy, you will continue, to receive existing levels of government support. F-TEC can advise on what funding is available and how to claim it.”
To gain a place on the RoATP, F-TEC had to undergo a rigorous due diligence process and demonstrate exceptional facilities, close involvement with employers and high skills levels among trainers, ensuring the organisation was fit to deliver the quality of training demanded by the government and employers under the levy scheme.
Evidence at street level that this is being achieved is provided by the 98% success rate among trainees and the 100% positive feedback scores from apprentices.
If you’d like to know more about apprenticeships, the levy or Service Engineer Development Courses, please call 01793 686182 or email karl.baum@f-tec.org.uk.