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<p>We are making apprenticeships longer and better, with more off-the-job training
and suitable assessment at the end. We have asked employers to lead on the design
of new standards that will give apprentices the skills that businesses really need.</p><p>We
are pleased with the changes we have seen to the balance of the programme, with the
increase in the proportion of high quality apprenticeships since the introduction
of the levy and wider apprenticeship reforms. 57.8% of people doing an apprenticeship
are now starting on apprenticeship standards (in the first quarter of the 2017/18
academic year), compared to 35.8% this time last year.</p><p>Over 90% of employers
with the largest levy declarations have set up an apprenticeship service account,
showing that they are ready and willing to invest. To further support employers, we
have already extended the amount of time that employers have to spend their levy (from
18 months to 24 months). We will increase the amount of funds that levy-paying employers
can transfer to other employers from 10% to 25% from April 2019.</p>
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