Advanced Learning Loans

Advanced Learning Loans have been introduced by the UK Government to allow learners aged 24 and over to access funded studying at Level 3, Level 4, Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships from 1st August 2013.

To be eligible for one of these loans you must:

• Be aged 24 or over at the start of your course
• Be undertaking an eligible course through an approved college or training provider in England.  Your college/training organisation can advise you on their approval status and confirm which courses are eligible if you wish
• Be living in the UK on the first day of you course
• Have been living in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for at least 3 years immediately before the start of your course
• Be a UK National or have “Settled Status” (i.e. there are no restrictions on how long you can stay in the UK).  Your college/training provider can also inform you of others ways you may qualify if you do not satisfy the conditions above
• Be able to produce forms of identification required during the application process, for example UK Nationals can use their valid UK Passport details
• Have a National Insurance Number – If you do not have an NI number you may still apply for a loan but may be contacted by Student Finance England should you be required to obtain one
  

Loan applications do not depend on your income or previous education history and no Credit Checks are carried out.
The loans themselves are used purely to cover the costs of the course and are paid directly to your college/provider:  Repayments (see below) are deducted automatically from your salary in a similar way to tax and National Insurance to ensure a hassle-free experience

Repayments of the loan are based on your income, and do not begin until:

• your annual income is above £21,000 per year (which is £404 per week or £1750 per month before UK tax)
• Repayments do not begin until the April after you complete the course (and not until April 2016)
• Repayments are simply calculated:  You pay back 9% of any income over £21,000; e.g. If you earn £25,000 your repayment will be 9% of the additional £4,000 monthly (approx. £30 per month)
• Click This link to access the Advanced Learning Loan repayment calculator which will allow you to easily estimate what your repayments are likely to be

  

The National Careers Service provide a number of very useful documents to help you fully understand Advanced Learning Loans and by clicking the link, you can read their page and download their Fact Sheet and FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) pack.
This website also contains an Eligibility Checking Tool (to see if you qualify for an Advanced Learning Loan) and a link to the Money Advice Service website – We strongly recommend you visit both websites before making a final decision on whether you wish to apply for the Loan.


If you are happy to choose an Advanced Learning Loan, have an idea of the course you wish to undertake and are happy for Remit to support you in gaining your qualification, please contact our dedicated team atadvance24@remit.co.uk and someone will be in contact to further advise you.

Remit is backing British female Rally Champion, Louise Cook, for the second year running

Remit, is backing British female Rally Champion, Louise Cook, for the second year running as she races to the top of her game.

 Remit, based in Nottingham, works with more than 1,600 motor industry apprentices across the country. The company is sponsoring Louise, who will be wearing the Remit logo on her overalls.

In a male-dominated industry, Remit is always looking to encourage young women to make a move into the automotive sector.

Remit’s Chief Operating Officer, Steve Yardley, said: “Louise is a fantastic role model for young women. Louise is really making her mark on a male dominated industry and is not afraid to compete with some of the world’s top rally drivers.

 “Last year we backed Louise for the first time and even gave her the extra boost she needed to make it to the WRC Brother Rally in New Zealand. She competed all over the world last year and we know is planning to build on her successes in the 2013/14 season.”

Twenty six year old Louise was the first ever female to gain a FIA Rally Championship Title when she became the FIA WRC Production Cup Champion whilst finishing 8^th from 15 in the Production World Rally Championship.

 She is in her fourth full season of rally driving and plans to compete in her Ford Fiesta R2 at some of the most famous rally events in the world.

 

Louise said: “I had so much fantastic help from my sponsors last year, Remit being one of them. They were also one of the sponsors that boosted their support to make sure I got to compete on Rally New Zealand.

 “Starting a career with Remit, could mean a future at the side of the race track or on rallies working with drivers like myself. Without our technicians, we would not be able to get through even one of the stages of the rally, so I am always grateful for what my rally team do.

 “I hope working together with the team at Remit I can help inspire more young people, particularly young women, to break into the automotive industry.”

Remit IT Apprentice Wins Microsoft Apprentice of the Year

Remit IT Academy apprentice, Jamie Sauvarin, was named the Microsoft Apprentice of the Year at the company’s national awards.

The Surrey-based young person is based at BrightStarr Ltd in Eashing, and works with the Remit team in our London-based IT Academy. Jamie was chosen from hundreds of apprentices from across the UK to receive this accolade.

He was presented with his award by the Minister of State for Employment, Mark Hoban, at a special ceremony on Monday 24th June at the House of Commons.

Jamie said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at BrightStarr so far and I’m so happy to have won this award. My apprenticeship has made me even keener to work in IT and has given me a chance to get the skills I need to do that. I would like to say thank you to Microsoft, BrightStarr and Remit for giving me this opportunity.”

Jamie was nominated by his employer for his hard work and commitment throughout his apprenticeship. He was commended in particular for managing the difficulty of moving to a different training provider halfway through his apprenticeship. 

Remit was selected to help Jamie complete his apprenticeship, but the transition did mean Jamie’s learning took longer than anticipated. He was commended by his assessor, manager and colleagues for maintaining a positive attitude towards the difficulties, all of which were out of his control.

Hugh Milward, Director of Corporate Affairs at Microsoft, said: “There is a huge wealth of talent here in the UK and it’s really important to celebrate the achievements of these apprentices, who have developed their skills and started an apprenticeship during tough economic times. These young people are now firmly on the career ladder as 93% of Microsoft apprentices stay with our partner businesses and move into a fully qualified role.”

Mark Hoban MP, Minister of State for Employment, said: “This government is committed to ensuring our young people are given the best chance to get on in life. In order for the scheme to work we rely on businesses like Microsoft opening their doors to aspirational young people, giving them the opportunity to gain the skills and training they need to get into work.”

Remit is one of just four training providers working alongside Microsoft in the UK to deliver apprenticeships. The company has IT Academies in the North, South (London) and the Midlands, with apprentices working with local employers across the country.

The IT apprenticeship can be completed in twelve months and is a combination of training and experience with an employer coupled with off-the-job training blocks. Once they have completed their training, apprentices will have gained qualifications equivalent to A Levels.

To apply you must have GCSE grades C or above in Maths and English. If you have predicted GCSE grades for this year’s exams, this would also be accepted for an initial application.

For more information, or to apply for an IT apprenticeship with Remit IT Academy, please call 01623 410020, visit the website: www.remit.co.uk, like the Facebook page ‘Remit Group’ or follow @RemitTraining @Remit_IT  

Ideagen Plc adopts Microsoft apprenticeship scheme with Remit IT Academy

Ideagen Plc, a UK-based leading supplier of compliance based information management software, has announced the adoption of the new Microsoft apprenticeship scheme that will provide employment opportunities for participants within the East Midlands region.

The new Microsoft apprenticeship from Remit IT Academy, the training provider of apprenticeships across the UK, is a twelve-month long initiative and offers participants pay and qualifications, as well as an opportunity to gain permanent positions. The programme allows participants to gain an Advanced Apprenticeship at Level 3, the equivalent of two A levels. The time apprentices dedicate to the programme is divided between their place of work and the IT Academy.

Apprentices learn practical skills by spending time in a real working environment. By shadowing qualified members of staff, apprentices learn first-hand how to go about the job. At the end of the programme and after passing the final exams, participants obtain CompTIA and Microsoft certification.

Ideagen’s announcement continues the company’s commitment to providing work opportunities for young people.

David Hornsby, CEO of Ideagen Plc, said: “Our new Microsoft openings are a great way for apprentices to improve their skills in the world of IT. Our programme is aimed at developing the young talent and helping them implement their knowledge in real life projects.”

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, participants will gain the following academic qualifications and MS certifications:

• Level 3 Diploma in ICT Professional Competence
• Level 3 Certificate in ICT Systems and Principles for Apprentices
• Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and Outlook
• CompTIA A+ certification
• Microsoft Networking Fundamentals certification
• Microsoft Windows 7, Configuring certification
• Microsoft Windows 7, Enterprise DST certification
• MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional), Title

 

Tom Pearson is Ideagen’s first apprentice in this scheme. Tom’s time at Ideagen is split between two sections: 20% is spent working towards his academic qualifications and Microsoft certification, and 80% on being an active member of the team.

Here’s what he told Ideagen:

What motivated you to choose Microsoft apprenticeship programme with Ideagen?

I chose not to go to college or university and go down the apprenticeship route as I am a very practical person. I learn better doing things than sitting in the classroom. I am very happy with my decision so far. My apprenticeship at Ideagen Plc is as a Software Support Technician.

How were your first two weeks at your apprenticeship with Ideagen?

I really enjoyed them. Everyone is easy to get along with and I'm having a great time. My team is really helpful and I have learnt a lot already. Ideagen has been really good to me and have bought me a new computer to help me with my work and studying. I have even been allowed a day off for my driving test!

How will this apprenticeship help you with your personal and professional development?

This apprenticeship will help me in so many ways. Being made redundant from a previous apprenticeship was a really big blow. I put so much effort into studying to be told I am no longer entitled to the qualification I worked for was devastating. After being made unemployed for the first time since I finished school I decided I have better things to do with my time than sit at home all day watching TV!

Being offered the position has made my family and friends extremely proud of me. This apprenticeship will change my life for the better, forever. It will help me get my foot onto the career ladder. Jobs nowadays are really hard to come by, especially at my age with limited experience. I am extremely grateful that I was offered the position at Ideagen, this will give me a much better chance at having a successful future.

 What do you expect to learn during this scheme?

During this apprenticeship I will be learning a lot of things, mainly involved around IT support. I will be helping clients resolve issues they may be having. This will involve talking to customers on the phone, using remote viewing software to control and fix errors with their computers and much more. The skills I learn will be an invaluable asset to me in the future. IT aside, I am really looking forward to gaining experience within a professional business environment as well as receiving my qualifications at the end of the scheme. Being paid for learning is just a huge bonus!

Diabetes Awareness Week 9-15 June 2013

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a common life-long health condition. There are 3 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and an estimated 850,000 people who have the condition but don’t know it.
Diabetes is a condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. This is because your pancreas does not produce any insulin, or not enough, to help glucose enter your body’s cells – or the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance).
Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, where it is used as fuel for energy so we can work, play and generally live our lives. It is vital for life.
Glucose comes from digesting carbohydrate and is also produced by the liver. Carbohydrate comes from many different kinds of foods and drink, including starchy foods such as bread, potatoes and chapatis; fruit; some dairy products; sugar and other sweet foods.
If you have diabetes, your body cannot make proper use of this glucose so it builds up in the blood and isn’t able to be used as fuel.

Information Source:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/

The drive to get you places

Steve Yardley, Chief Operating Officer for Remit Group

It has been fantastic to see apprenticeships being given a great deal more attention in recent years. There are now more opportunities than ever for young people to get onto the career ladder and train in their chosen field.

But it’s really important that apprenticeships are not just seen as the university route’s poorer cousin. They are not just a way to reduce unemployment figures, get people out of the job centre and into work, offering employers cheap labour, or even a way to pass on the jobs employers don’t want to do themselves.

An apprenticeship is a springboard to a career. It offers valuable training, on-the-job experience, not only in technical skills, but in life lessons too. And to top it all off, you’re paid to do it – not racking up debts in excess of £20,000, a burden that so many graduates carry with them into working life.

At Remit the majority of our work is in the automotive industry, a traditional apprenticeship route, which is still incredibly popular with young people. But it does carry age-old stigmas, and to many wouldn’t even be considered over a university education.

However I hope people like myself and many of our assessors and senior managers at Remit can serve to allay some of those stigmas.

I began my career as an apprentice mechanic in Nottingham in the eighties. I don’t think if you’d have asked a 16-year-old me where I thought I’d be in 30 years time, I’d say running a £14.5 million company, responsible for training nearly 6,000 apprentices across the UK.

But I had the drive for it, and that’s what matters.

I strongly believe that life is what you make of it. A driven and motivated young person can achieve anything, and I see so many of examples of this at Remit every day.

I never forget where I came from, as I wouldn’t be here without it.

Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2013

To find out about our Apprenticeships in Scotland call our team of recruitment advisers on 01506 411944

http://goo.gl/aDxK3 - To find out more about Scottish Apprenticeship Week