Herald - Issue 420

Page 54 • The HERALD • 10th March 2022 v SEND ALL YOUR NEWS TO THE HERALD v Building Plans & Estimating Building Plans for Planning & Building Regulation approval Builders Estimating Service Free initial meeting and estimate CAD drawings produced on latest software Please call Bob on 07795 692060 Email abbott.bob@sky.com ASK A PROFESSIONAL Businesses Supported to Take Advantage of Transferred Apprenticeship Funds highlights the value of apprentices to the workplace, I’m proud that over the past three years we have worked with more than 150 organisations across Hampshire to fund their apprenticeships, we have committed more than £3 million from our Apprenticeship Levy to achieve this – making it one of the largest local authority transfer schemes in the country. Close to 500 people have been employed in an apprenticeship as a result and it’s really heartening to see that those apprentices are being taken on in sectors that are desperately in need of trained staff, notably residential care, education and childcare.” e County Council’s Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Scheme provides funding for employers to create apprenticeship opportunities. More than half have been employed in elderly care, with childcare and the education sector also bene ting. Hampshire County Council Apprenticeship Levy funding is an amount of money that, by law, large employers must set aside for apprenticeship training. Since 2017, the County Council has createdmore than 1500 apprenticeship starts amongst its own sta and Hampshire schools. Employers seeking a share of the County Council’s Levy Transfer funding are encouraged to prioritise the o er of an apprenticeship to those who are vulnerable, such as young people who are not in education or training, the long-term unemployed, care leavers and people with special educational needs and disabilities. To qualify, employers must ensure apprentices are a Hampshire resident or working in the county, and that the apprentice’s place of training and work will be within the Hampshire County Council local authority area (even if the employer’s head o ce is not). Further sector related criteria will also apply. Building on the success of its levy transfer scheme, the Council’s Apprenticeship and Skills Hub is supporting other large employers in Hampshire to make levy transfer commitments, to date securing pledges for more than £500,000 levy funds and o ering a local brokerage service to support small businesses with their apprenticeship recruitment. To nd out more and apply for a Levy Transfer, visit: www. theapprenticeshiphub.com During National Apprenticeship Week in February, Hampshire County Council encouraged the county’s employers to use the Levy Transfer Scheme to take on apprentices when growing their workforce and help to fill skill gaps in the county. Councillor Roz Chadd, the County Council’s Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services, which support apprenticeships and training, said: “In a week which While reaching old age is viewed as somewhat of a milestone by many, it is o en associated with a combination of deterioration and health problems. No one likes to think about losing the ability to manage their own a airs, but a staggering 820,000 people in the UK have some form of dementia. e truth is, there are a multitude of factors that can impact someone’s ability to make coherent decisions, regardless of age or physical health. So, what happens if you lose mental capacity? is is where a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) comes in to play. In choosing to have an LPA in place, the nominated attorneys can then make decisions on your behalf. is should be someone you trust and feel con dent they will act in your best interest. e process of putting an LPA in place can only be done whilst you have mental capacity. It is o en thought that, if an LPA has not been created, a family member or partner can make decisions on your behalf – but this is not the case. If you would like your loved ones to be able to make decisions in the event of you losing mental capacity, you need an LPA in place or an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA). Anyone who is over the age of 18 and has the mental capacity to do so, can put an LPA in place. Although it can only be used a er the documents have been registered with the O ce of the Public Guardian. If you no longer have the capacity to complete an LPA, the Court of Protection then appoints a Deputy to manage your a airs. is is o en a costly process, and the Deputy may not always be made aware of your preferences or wishes, and may not even be a family member. Here at Heritage Will Writing, we o er a no-obligation service, within which we can discuss your needs and requirements. Call us today on 023 8087 9 243 or email info@ heritagewillwriting.co.uk WHY YOU SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF AN LPA by Heritage Will Writing