ASOS, Hobbs, Whistles, Phase Eight… following the high-profile attacks on Marks & Spencer, Co-op and Jaguar Land Rover. Big brands, significant resources, and yet still vulnerable. But what about the thousands of smaller businesses that don’t have dedicated cyber security teams or substantial IT budgets? The consequences of a cyber attack go far beyond a […]
📢 Calling Thurrock Employers SEATS has been commissioned by Thurrock Council to engage with local employers and better understand current workforce needs, skills challenges and recruitment priorities. Whether you’re a small business, large employer, or somewhere in between, your views can help shape future skills, training and employment support across Thurrock. We’ll be contacting employers over the coming […]
New Apprenticeship Units Offer Flexible Route to Workforce Upskilling Businesses looking to address skills gaps, boost productivity and prepare for future growth can now access a range of Apprenticeship Units designed to deliver targeted training in key growth sectors. Built from existing apprenticeship standards, Apprenticeship Units are short, focused programmes that allow employers to develop […]
Why Businesses Should Champion Vocational Routes Into Work Today’s King’s Speech from King Charles III placed a clear emphasis on skills, apprenticeships, youth employment, and creating opportunities for every young person to succeed — regardless of background or academic pathway. Among the key themes were: Continued investment in apprenticeships Tackling youth unemployment Greater respect for […]
Inclusive recruitment is no longer just a “nice to have” for organisations—it’s becoming essential for attracting, hiring and retaining the best talent. Many employers are currently facing challenges such as low application numbers, limited diversity in candidate pools and difficulties retaining staff. In many cases, the issue isn’t the availability of talent—it’s how recruitment processes […]
Here’s What Employers Need to Know Over the past few days, Skills England has announced some significant changes to the apprenticeship landscape. The team at SEATS has taken the time to read, review and digest the updates so we can bring them to you in one clear, straightforward summary. As expected, there is now a major policy pivot towards supporting younger people […]
The Apprenticeship Levy Becomes the Skills & Growth Levy in April 2026 The apprenticeship landscape is about to undergo its biggest transformation since the levy was introduced in 2017. From April 2026, the Apprenticeship Levy will officially become the Skills & Growth Levy, bringing major reforms thatwill impact every employer in the UK. Whether you’re a levy payer or not, the way you plan and fund apprenticeship training is about to change — significantly. At the heart of the system is one key question: “Is your annual salary bill over or under £3 million?” That determines which set of rules applies to your organisation. For Levy-Paying Employers (£3m+ […]
My SEATS Journey: Skills, Confidence and Partnership That Transformed My Career When I enrolled on the Level 5 Operations Manager Apprenticeship with SEATS and Get Set, I knew I wanted to grow my leadership capability, but I didn’t expect the experience to shape my confidence, career progression and network quite as deeply as it has. […]
My Journey so far with SEATS & What’s Coming Next in Leadership Development When I joined SEATS earlier this year, I knew I’d stepped into something special. SEATS has always had a strong reputation for high-quality learning, but what struck me immediately was the genuine passion here for developing people – not just teaching to […]
Why I Joined the SEATS Board and Why What We Do Matters When I was asked to be one of the founding members of the SEATS board of Directors I jumped at the chance. Having spent several years leading restructuring and re-skilling in a business transformation role for a major international company, with significant […]
