Petra Wilton, Director of Strategy for the Chartered Management Institute, comments on the levy that comes into effect this Thursday

"The Apprenticeship Levy is a huge opportunity for employers to invest in the skills needed to lead and grow a competitive workforce. With economic uncertainty ahead, employers need to invest in management capabilities now more than ever to lead change and engage their employees.

"Businesses disputing the need for a levy should realise that the true tax on jobs is the low productivity of managers already in the workplace, costing £84bn per year according to research by Investors in People.  Investment to upskill and bring on the next generation of managers through higher level and degree apprenticeships will be more than repaid by the productivity gains they deliver.

"It's vital that employers are fully supported to develop home-grown talent through high-quality trailblazer apprenticeships. Already, we're seeing both major employers and SMEs adopt the new Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship and invest in professional management apprenticeships from Team Leader Level 3 through to the new Master's degree apprenticeships being developed. Education providers and professional bodies are playing a key role in working with employers to show the business benefits of these new apprenticeships and meeting the skills that employers most need."