This webinar comes at a pivotal moment for employers navigating a rapidly evolving skills and apprenticeship landscape. Recent government announcements have introduced a series of significant changes, including new employer incentives, the rollout of apprenticeship units, and the streamlining of standards. Together, these reforms are beginning to reshape how employers recruit, train and develop their workforce.

For many employers, the direction of travel is becoming clearer, but the detail and practical implications remain complex. Decisions about whether to recruit apprentices, invest in upskilling existing staff, or engage with new training models are being made in real time, often without a full picture of how the system will operate in practice. This session is designed to help bridge that gap.

Delivered in partnership with AELP, the St Martin’s Group and the 5% Club, the webinar will provide a clear and accessible overview of what is changing, when changes are expected to take effect, and what this means for employers on the ground. The session will explore key themes including the impact of financial incentives on recruitment decisions, the role and purpose of apprenticeship units, and how the removal or reform of certain standards may affect workforce planning.

• Date/Time: Wednesday, 29 April 2026 | 2:00–3:00pm
• Register now: here

Agenda
The webinar will take the form of a moderated panel discussion with short scene-setting inputs, followed by interactive elements (live polling and Q&A) to gather employer insight.

Chair: Ben Rowland (AELP)

• 2:00–2:05 | Welcome and introduction

Opening remarks from Chair
Overview of purpose, audience, and what attendees will gain

• 2:05–2:15 | Scene-setting: what’s changing and when

Short overview of recent policy changes:
Streamlining of standards
Employer incentives
Apprenticeship units
Delivered by AELP (Ben Rowland / Simon Ashworth)

• 2:15–2:35 | Panel discussion: what this means for employers

Contributions from:

• Simon Ashworth (AELP)
• Lindsay Conroy (The 5% Club)
• Emily Rock (St Martin’s Group)

Focus on practical implications for: Recruitment decisions; Workforce development; Engagement with apprenticeships

• 2:35–2:45 | Interactive polling and audience insight

Live polls to gather employer views on:
Likely response to incentives
Appetite for apprenticeship units
Impact of streamlining decisions
Brief reflections from panel on emerging results

• 2:45–2:55 | Q&A

Open Q&A with attendees (submitted via chat)
Chair to prioritise questions reflecting common themes
2:55–3:00 | Closing remarks and next steps

Summary of key messages
How insights will be used to inform engagement with government
Signposting to further support and resources

Join us at City & Guilds for an inspiring in‑person event designed for L&D professionals who want to connect, learn, and collaborate!

• Date: Wednesday 17 June 2026
• Time: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
• Venue: The Manchester College – City Campus, 60 Great Ducie Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M3 1LT
• Book via Eventbrite

As the UK skills landscape continues to shift, organisations are under growing pressure to attract, develop, and retain the talent they need to thrive. Join us for an interactive and engaging event that brings together industry experts and leading employers to share fresh thinking, real examples, and practical strategies to strengthen your workforce development approach.

• Tom Colgan, Early Careers Lead, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)
• Jenna Eaton, Learning and Development  Manager, Seddon

Why attend?

• Date: Tuesday 21 April 2026
• Time: 11:00am
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Platform: Zoom
• Booking: Via Eventbrite
• Recording: Available on demand after the event

Earn & learn is more than a workforce strategy — it is one of the most powerful drivers of measurable social impact available to employers today.

Join The 5% Club and PeoplePlus for a focused 45-minute webinar exploring how structured earn & learn pathways can transform employer intent into tangible social value outcomes.

Chaired by CEO of The 5% Club Mark Cameron OBE, with Laura Savage, Partner Services and Social Value Solutions Director at PeoplePlus, this session will examine  the growing expectation on employers to evidence social impact — and how to meet it with confidence.

Two employers will also share practical insights on embedding social value into workforce strategy.

Why Attend?

Employers are operating in an environment of increasing ESG scrutiny, procurement requirements and stakeholder expectation. Social value is no longer a “nice to have” — it is a commercial differentiator.

This session will explore:

• How earn & learn pathways (apprenticeships, sponsored students, graduates, T Levels and returners) drive measurable social mobility and inclusion
• The difference between social value and social impact — and why both matter
• The role of the UK Government Social Value Model in procurement
• How structured measurement frameworks strengthen bids, reporting and brand credibility
• The link between workforce planning and long-term community impact

The 5% Club exists to drive quality “earn and learn” opportunities across the UK. Our employer movement is built on the belief that opportunity, when structured and sustained, creates lasting economic and social value. During this webinar, we will also outline how social value will be further embedded within The 5% Club Employer Audit — strengthening the connection between:

• Earn & learn ratios
• Inclusion metrics
• Progression outcomes
• Social mobility impact

Our ambition is clear: to support employers in moving from participation to accreditation, and from accreditation to measurable leadership.

Hear directly from employers who are:

• Embedding earn & learn into core workforce strategy
• Measuring and reporting social impact
• Aligning ESG commitments with practical delivery
• Strengthening retention, productivity and long-term workforce sustainability

This is an opportunity to learn what works, understand common challenges, and gain practical advice for organisations at every stage of their social value journey.