15 August 2016

What was it that Donald Rumsfeld said about “known unknowns”? Whatever it was, the sentiment seems appropriate for the government’s new apprenticeship levy scheme. The latest slew of information from the Department for Education does, admittedly, add clarity in some areas but there are still enough grey areas to cause more than a few head scratching moments.

The race to digest all the information – and there is a lot of it – and register your business is likely to cause a few headaches. It might only be August now, but that initial January registration deadline will come around in a flash. Likewise, the need to be up and running by spring next year. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed, with the NFDA already voicing concerns regarding the tight timetable. 

Curiously, despite thinking it’s got most of its ducks in a row already, the government is inviting feedback on the scheme. However, like with the looming registration date you’ll need to get your skates on to meet that particular 5 September deadline. Of course, it’s not as if you’ve got a business to run or anything. The concept might be honourable – and the NFDA says as much – but for what is a complex and far-reaching scheme, it’s more than a little disconcerting that so much has yet to be cast in stone.

Iain Dooley

Editor, Agenda

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Tags: apprenticeship levy scheme, deadline, Department for Education, NFDA