Basingstoke ITEC

17/09/2026

Are you a small business?

If you hire a new apprentice, aged 17, starting from October 2026.
This is what it could cost you.

Training cost: £0 (fully government-funded for under-25s)
Government hiring payment: £2,000 (paid in instalments from October)
Additional payment for a 16–18 year old: £1,000
Employer NI on their salary: £0 (under-25s earning under £50,270 are exempt)

In exchange, what do you get?

A dedicated member of your team, trained specifically in the skills that your business needs, supported throughout by the same coach … from day one through to qualification.

The costs are there – their salary, and a £100 admin fee to us. But, as returns go, a qualified employee you’ve grown yourself is hard to argue against.

Get in touch and we’ll put together the numbers for your particular situation.
[email protected]

07/09/2026

On Thursday 3 September, the House of Lords debated a motion on skills, vocational training, and further and higher education – specifically what’s needed to improve outcomes for people from disadvantaged communities and support regional growth.

The Lords Library briefing is a long read, but a few lines stopped me mid-scroll.

On the scale of the problem: “Research has suggested workforce skills and qualifications are linked to employment rates, earnings and economic productivity, with disadvantaged groups more likely to have poorer educational and labour market outcomes.”
On the young people currently being failed: around 1 million aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training. ONE MILLION! 😦

On what the government is trying to do about it: the ‘Youth Guarantee’, which aims to ensure all young people can access education, training, apprenticeships or support to enter employment – alongside the ‘Get Britain Working’ agenda and apprenticeship reforms.

Apprenticeships sit at the centre of all of this. They always have. And yet they still feel under-discussed in the rooms where many of these decisions are made.

If you’d like to read the full briefing, the link is here – it’s worth the time.

Research has suggested workforce skills and qualifications are linked to employment rates, earnings and economic productivity, with disadvantaged groups more likely to have poorer educational and labour market outcomes. Official statistics also show that disadvantaged pupils are at greater risk of n...

08/07/2026

Small and medium businesses have an apprenticeship superpower. Most don't realise they have it.

SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy and often where apprenticeships work best. Yet a huge opportunity is being missed: the power of inclusion and diversity. Having all kinds of different people in a business should lead to more innovative, successful and pleasant places to work, yet not enough companies say that inclusion is a priority in recruitment.

In Onvero’s 2025 State of Inclusion in the UK report, only a quarter of leaders believe that their EDI strategy is fully embedded within their organisation’s culture. 15% of employees agreed with them … and another 15 % were ‘unaware of their organisation's policies or procedures on EDI.’
That’s not great!

We can help you to set up an apprenticeship programme which embraces inclusion and diversity – we’d love to help your company achieve apprenticeship superhero status.

If you’re a local employer, talk to us about our work

16/06/2026

🌈 CELEBRATING DIVERSITY. CHAMPIONING INCLUSION. SUPPORTING EVERYONE. 🌍

At Basingstoke ITEC, we are proud to support Pride, Black History, Windrush, South Asian Heritage, Interfaith communities, Human Rights, Trans Visibility, and all the diverse groups that make our communities stronger.

Our commitment to equality, dignity, respect and belonging is not limited to a single month or awareness campaign. We stand alongside our learners, colleagues, families and communities every month of the year.

Everyone deserves to feel valued, respected, heard and included.

❤️ We may be a small not-for-profit, but we care deeply about you and your families.

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15/04/2026

Choosing the right training provider matters.🤝

At Basingstoke ITEC, we’ve worked alongside a wide range of employers to support apprentices who don’t just learn — they add real value to your business.💼

We pride ourselves on being reliable, easy to work with, and genuinely invested in your team’s success. No jargon, no complications — just quality training and ongoing support you can trust.

If you’re considering apprenticeships, let’s explore how we can support your next hire 🚀

11/02/2026

National Apprenticeship Week 2026: Building Futures with Basingstoke ITEC 🚀

Not everyone’s future starts at university. 🎓
And not every career follows a traditional path. 🛤️

This is National Apprenticeship Week, and at Basingstoke ITEC we’re proud to be part of a national movement that’s changing how people build careers.

Every year, we support learners to develop real skills in IT, Marketing, Business and more — working with employers, earning from day one 💼, and gaining qualifications that actually matter in the workplace. 📚

Apprenticeships today aren’t a “second option”.
They’re a powerful first choice. 💡

This week is about celebrating opportunity, potential, and the people taking control of their futures with apprenticeships. 🌱 And we’re excited to keep helping the next generation do exactly that.

👉 If you’re thinking about your next step — or looking to grow your team — National Apprenticeship Week is the perfect time to start with Basingstoke ITEC. www.basingstokeitec.co.uk

09/02/2026

💙 Children’s Mental Health Week 💙

At Basingstoke ITEC, we work with young people aged 16+ and know that learning is about so much more than just gaining qualifications 📚. Mental health and wellbeing play a huge role in building confidence, motivation and long-term success.

This week is a reminder of how important it is to create safe, supportive environments where young people feel heard, valued and able to ask for help when they need it 🤝. Alongside our tutors and support teams, we also partner with MELP CO, a dedicated mental health app, giving learners additional access to wellbeing support whenever they need it 💬.

Because supporting mental health means supporting futures ✨💙

🔗 Find out more about what we do and our support: basingstokeitec.co.uk
🔗 Learn more about MELP CO: melp.org.uk

29/01/2026

🚀 2026 is already moving — and this is the year to use us for apprenticeship training.

At Basingstoke ITEC, we work with employers to deliver high-quality apprenticeship training that supports your business, develops your people, and builds skills that last 💼📚

If you’re hiring apprentices this year, or planning to, we’re here to support you every step of the way, from training delivery to ongoing guidance 🤝

For apprenticeship training that works for your business in 2026 — use Basingstoke ITEC.

🚀

25/12/2025

🎄✨ Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! ✨🎄

Thank you to all our employers, apprentices, partners and supporters for being part of our journey this year. It’s been a fantastic year of collaboration, growth and opportunity, and we’re proud to work with so many organisations and individuals who are committed to developing skills and nurturing future talent through apprenticeships.

As we look ahead to the new year, we’re excited to continue building on this momentum and supporting even more apprentices and employers in the year to come.

🎅 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Basingstoke ITEC! 🎆

16/12/2025

🎄 Our final newsletter of the year is landing Wednesday morning! 🎄

As we wrap up 2025, our latest Basingstoke ITEC newsletter is heading to inboxes on Wednesday at 10am 📩

Inside, you’ll find:
✨ Key apprenticeship updates
🎉 Highlights from our 40th anniversary celebrations
🤖 Insights on closing the AI skills gap
💡 Apprenticeship myth-busting for employers
🎄 And yes… a couple of festive tech jokes 😉

If you work with apprentices — or are thinking about developing future talent — keep an eye on your inbox.

Don't miss out sign up today using this link - https://bit.ly/ITEC-Newsletter-Sign-Up

Don't miss out, sign up today using this link - https://bit.ly/ITEC-Newsletter-Sign-Up