News
Mental Health Awareness: How Kindness can Make All the Difference
The Mental Health Foundation is hosting its annual Mental Health Awareness Week this week, from 18th to 24th May and this year’s theme is kindness. The current climate has taught us more than ever before about how much kindness matters and how even the smallest acts of kindness can make a real difference to someone’s life. While we cannot hug
Training Employees with Tighter Budgets
The current economic climate means many businesses have no choice but to tighten their purse strings, and with this in mind, tasks such as staff training, and upskilling can fall under the radar. While training and development may not be top of the agenda for you at the moment, it could be the perfect time to upskill and improve your
Stress and Young People: Managing your Emotions for Future Success
Researchers at UCL have been carrying out a regular survey of over 80,000 adults across England during the pandemic, to give us a wider picture of how it is impacting on our mental health. Their information is regularly updated week-by-week showing how government announcements and statistics are impacting on our wellbeing and it is important to remember in such difficult
Utilising the 20% Off-The-Job Requirement for Apprentices
Employers and apprentices have had a couple of years now to get used to the 20% off-the-job requirements to receive certain funding. This not-often-explored rule states that every apprentice is required to spend “at least 20% of their time on off-the-job training” and with the current lockdown situation, many employers can take advantage of this time and use it to
Succession Planning and Star Trek
If you weren’t thinking about it before, you are probably now planning for the future of your business. Many organisations ignore the issue of succession planning until it becomes an immediate problem, because they worry that it will be too stressful and may have a negative impact on staff. Some may view succession planning as planning for someone to fail
COVID-19 FAQs for Employers
Can my apprentice work from home? Yes, they can and we encourage them to do so. Our Learning Practitioners have access to Zoom and MS Teams to deliver online sessions as well e-learning resources and of course phone. Can I still recruit and Apprentice? Yes we can. We are still getting lots of apprentice applications and are able to
COVID-19 FAQs for Learners
I need to self-isolate, can I continue with my apprenticeship? Absolutely, we have a number of ways to keep you on track and learning from home including webinars and e-learning. Get in touch to find out more Can I start an apprenticeship during the COVID-19 outbreak? Yes, you can, if you are employed and would like to continue your
How to stay connected while keeping your distance
Think about all the big things in life. Your home, your family, your friends… and then think about how drastically things have changed in relation to all those things in the last few weeks thanks to the impact of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that has completely altered the world as we know it. Nights out in good company are no
The Big Decision: What’s Next after School?
Although there is a little confusion around final grades and the next steps due to the early closure of schools in the UK, those who are finishing year 11 have to decide whether they’re going onto college or considering another path. In England, you can leave school on the last Friday in June as long as you turn 16 by
Top Tips for Boosting Your Mood
When cabin fever has set in, finding the motivation to get things done can be difficult. Whether you’re home alone, or surrounded by family, it can be all too easy to slip into a slump. Here are some ideas to get you back on top and feeling happy. Five mood-boosting ideas when you’re stuck in isolation 1. Begin with positivity