High levels of productivity cause huge personal welfare issues amongst all staff, which then overspill into family, social and health issues. Similarly, low levels of productivity damage the rate at which an economy grows and after the economic lag has been accounted for produces low wage increases, a lowering of disposable income, lower spending power and ultimately a complete downturn in the economy which may lead to a recession.

In a little more than a month’s time, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming around again! 

If you are an online retailer, you should already have started preparing yourself for one of the craziest week of the year.

If you still need to sort out a quick marketing plan to make the most of this long weekend, we have put some tips together for you: 

Welcome to the final post in our 18 part series on the Apprenticeship Levy. Since its launch over two years ago in April 2017, the Levy has had a profound impact on individuals and businesses up and down the country.

Welcome to the penultimate article in our 18 part series on the Apprenticeship Levy. Over the course of this series we’ve put the Apprenticeship Levy under the spotlight and uncovered everything there is to know about it, from who needs to contribute to who’s eligible to use it - and everything in between. Now it’s time to take a brief look at how best to put those funds into action. You’ve looked into the Apprenticeship Levy, read our series on it and you’re all clued up. You know what funds you have access to, you’ve opened an online account and you’re ready to go… what next?

This is the 16th article in our 18 part series on the Apprenticeship Levy. In our previous piece, we talked about which providers you were able to spend the levy with and whether or not there were any limitations. In this piece, we’re looking at who you can spend the levy on. Are there any limitations to who you can enrol as an apprentice? Is there a greater incentive to choose one individual over another? Let’s review...

This is the 15th article in our 18 part series on the Apprenticeship Levy. Along the way, we’ve uncovered everything there is to learn about the levy, including who’s eligible to pay, who has access to the fund, and the various ways in which it can benefit businesses of all sizes. Having access to something like the Apprenticeship Levy is a huge boon to businesses and they’re glad to have it, but not a lot businesses are aware of the various ways in which the levy can be utilised. One of the most common questions on the Internet at the moment is, “Can I choose who I spend the Levy with?” and the answer, to a certain extent, is yes - but there are rules you need to be mindful of. 

Welcome to the 14th post in our 18 part series on the Apprenticeship Levy. Throughout the series we’ve covered everything employers and apprenticeship candidates could possibly need to know about the levy, including how it works, who’s eligible and what you can do with your funds. Though the levy scheme itself was launched in 2017, many employers still have questions about how they can best utilise their allocated funds. One of the questions we’ve noticed crop up time and time again, is whether or not the Apprenticeship Levy can be spent on graduate development. The short answer is yes, but there are some fundamental differences to traditional graduate programmes. 

This is article number 13 in our 18 part series on the Apprenticeship Levy. We’ve talked in-depth about all aspects of the levy throughout this series, covering everything from contributions and eligibility, right through to how the funds can be used and what apprentices should expect. Since the Apprenticeship Levy was first launched in April 2017, it’s made apprenticeships more accessible to all and actively encouraged businesses to tap into apprenticeships as a way of improving or expanding their workforce. One of the most common questions people ask about the levy is whether or not there are any age restrictions. Far from being a restriction, this is actually one of the ways in which the Apprenticeship Levy truly shines.
 

Welcome to the twelfth article in our 18 part series on the Apprenticeship Levy. Throughout this series, we’re breaking down the myths surrounding the levy and explaining, post by post, how it could benefit businesses of all sizes throughout the UK. Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored who is eligible to contribute to the levy, which businesses are entitled to use the funds and how those funds can be spent.

This is the eleventh article in our 18 part series on the Apprenticeship Levy. With each post, we’re trying to increase employers’ understanding of the Levy - how they can use it and how it can benefit their business. We’ve been on quite a journey over the past 10 articles, covering everything from eligibility and access, to how the funds can be spent and what can be achieved. While we may have touched on a few of the benefits in previous posts, now feels like a good time to review the key benefits of the Apprenticeship Levy and why it should be on your business’ radar.