By Ian Girling, chief executive, Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry

LAST Friday we held the annual Dorset Chamber President’s Lunch. It was a great day in honour of the new DCCI president Vincent Boni, and one where we had the chance to reflect on the strengths of the great businesses we have in Dorset.

During the lunch we were also delighted to formally announce the launch of the Dorset Apprentice Award on March 6 2017, being the beginning of National Apprenticeship week. Dorset Chamber is passionate about promoting apprenticeships – they offer tremendous opportunities for both people seeking to develop their skills and careers as well as employers in recruiting a skilled, competitive workforce.

The Dorset Apprentice Award, run by DCCI in association with the Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network and sponsored by local businessman and former DCCI president Geoff Warde MBE, seeks to celebrate the importance and contribution of apprentices to business.

We will be asking apprentices, employers and training providers to nominate apprentices to enter the awards. Applicants will be asked to highlight the contribution they make in the workplace as well have the opportunity to demonstrate their personal and professional achievements whilst on the apprenticeship programme.

The Dorset Apprentice Award will celebrate the achievements of apprentices in all sectors at intermediate, advanced, higher and degree level.

Winning apprentices (including their employers and training provider) will be profiled in the Dorset and Daily Echo as well as the Dorset Business magazine. We will also be announcing and recognising our winners at the launch of the prestigious Dorset Business Awards on June 14.

Further information and entry forms will be available on the DCCI website from March 6 or you can register your interest now by contacting Vicki Hailes at vicki.hailes@dcci.co.uk

To encourage businesses to invest in apprentices and support the future funding and growth of the programme, this year will also see the introduction of important new reforms, including the apprenticeship levy from April 6.

Businesses with an annual wage bill in excess of £3million will be required to pay the levy at the rate of 0.5 per cent (on wage costs above £3m). For example, a business with a gross wages bill of £5m would pay the levy on £2m (£5m less £3m) and at 0.5 per cent, the levy would be £10,000. The government will then top this up by 10 per cent.

The business then has up to 24 months to draw this funding down to spend on apprenticeships.

It is important businesses are aware and understand this new levy and more information can be found at gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-levy-how-it-will-work/apprenticeship-levy-how-it-will-work or on the website of DCCI business partners Bournemouth and Poole College thecollege.co.uk/employers/apprenticeship-solutions/apprenticeship-levy