Podcast: Learning in challenging times and beyond

Learning in challenging times and beyond

This 20 minute session introduces Dimple Khagram, Founder of Purple Beard a training and development start-up in the data and technology space. A thirst for continuous learning and development has seen Dimple found successful companies for the last two decades.

Her passion and energy to deliver a portfolio of courses and apprenticeships for all levels of capability and seniority is addictive! Listen to how you can learn new skills and focus your time positively in the hours normally dedicated to your weekly commute.

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Dimple Khagram -MA, FInstLM

Dimple has set up 2 successful training companies in the UK and two companies in Kenya, which she sold before she moved to the UK in 2003. Starting her own business at 21 years of age, she set up international projects in the supply of FMCG and Education in Central and East Africa.

Dimple is an experienced Trainer, Coach, Mentor, IQA, Assessor and End Point Assessor. Has worked in the vocational education sector for more than 14 years undertaking various roles, leading teams, business development and the running of two successful training companies.

Purple Beard Ltd was launched in 2019 with a mission to deliver apprenticeship programmes and commercial online training to businesses and individuals in the digital space. Dimple is a passionate advocate for diversity in the tech sector.

Purple Beard, is particularly passionate about supporting underrepresented groups in the tech space, including women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, across all age groups.

We specialise in working with medium to large employers who wish to reskill or upskill their existing workforce, through tailored blended learning programmes, in sectors including retail, IT, pharmaceutical, public sector and digital marketing.

Dimple has in excess of 15 years of professional experience managing apprenticeships from an operations and quality perspective and delivering training in various sectors. Her specialisms include designing curriculums, delivery of apprenticeship standards, quality assurance, preparation for OFSTED, matrix, employer engagement, working with EPA’s, team management and supporting delivery teams.

A recent Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management, a member of SFIA (Skills Framework for the Information Age), and an independent End-Point Assessor for City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management.

Dimple is a self-taught techie who is fascinated by the world of AI, Machine Learning and Data.

Interests:

Dimple enjoys travelling, photography, hiking and writes a Blog about food, wine, travel and relationships. She likes to interact with people. She is a level 2 qualified Sommelier. She enjoys cooking for friends. She volunteers with contact the elderly and crisis. She is a talented photographer and is interested in making documentaries about humanity.

Additional information

Purple Beard Ltd can offer Digital skills programs in specific Tech pathways at level 3 and 4. We offer 2 different pathways

Commercial training that can be funded by either individuals or employers We have partnered with Women in Data to offer 50% of all our Pathways courses ( Pathway courses are a specific pathways that support you in developing as a Data Analyst or Software Developer)

Training via the Apprenticeship scheme. Apprenticeships

What is an Apprenticeship:

Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. There are different levels of Apprenticeships . The benefits of an Apprenticeship are as follows

Earn while you learn.
Get the qualifications you need.
Learn at your own pace.
Great support.
Practical experience.
Transferable skills.

Levels of apprenticeships are at equivalent educational levels.

Name	Level	Equivalent educational level
Intermediate	2	GCSE
Advanced	3	A level
Higher	4,5,6 and 7	Foundation degree and above
Degree	6 and 7	Bachelor’s or master’s degree

Some apprenticeships may also give you an additional qualification, such as a diploma.

How can you fund an Apprenticeship

Levy Employer : Large businesses whose wage bill is in excess of £3 million pounds per annum. (they pay 0.5% of their total annual pay bill)

You can only use funds in your account to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment for apprentices that work at least 50% of the time in England. Employers have 24 months to use their funds once they enter their apprenticeship service account, after this point, their funds will expire.

Non- Levy Employer: Small employers whose wage bull is under £3 million pounds per annum.

Non-levy paying employers will share the cost of training and assessing their apprentices with government – this is called ‘co-investment’.

Furloughed Employees:

A furloughed employee can take part in volunteer work or training, as long as it does not provide services to or generate revenue for, or on behalf of the employer. Training in this context includes apprenticeship off-the-job training.

Where their provider can continue to deliver training remotely, a furloughed apprentice can therefore continue their apprenticeship whilst furloughed.

Where training is undertaken by furloughed workers, at the request of their employer, workers are entitled to be paid at least the appropriate minimum wage for this time. In most cases, the furlough payment of 80% of a worker’s wage, up to the value of £2,500, will provide sufficient monies to cover these training hours. However, where the furlough payment does not meet the appropriate minimum wage for the time spent training, employers will need to pay the additional wages.

This is an opportunity to re-skill and up-skill your Furloughed and non -Furloughed staff .

In this week’s podcast

Dimple Khagram, Founder – Purple Beard Training

Previous podcasts

Janine Woodcock – Furlough fear How to adapt survive and thrive