THE North West Business Leadership Team is a group which meets to develop business success for the north west.

Their regular meetings involve senior managers from leading organisations across the region to tackle emerging issues and share thoughts on best practice.

The topic for the session I attended as a panel member this last week was held at United Utilities in Warrington.

The introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy from April 2017 was the topic.

Companies with a salary bill over £3million per year will pay a tax to be used for ‘apprentice’ training.

These apprenticeships will be available to masters degree level, so could be used to develop existing graduates in your own company with new skills, as well as to attract new talent to undertake a degree, for example as well as at levels below.

It’s probably not the understanding that most people have in the UK of being an apprentice.

Germany was once again indicated as having a very successful apprenticeship approach.

No-one likes paying tax, but if this means high a quality workforce which are well-rewarded then it’s got to be good for everyone in the end. The north west has more than twice as many apprenticeships running as the north east. Let’s make sure that continues.

  •  Lawrence Bellamy writes a regular column for business.