Businesses urged to back apprentice fund

A Tees Valley employment programme has unlocked 89 apprenticeship opportunities after businesses pledged almost £2 million in unused levy funding.

The Apprenticeship Levy Matching Service, supported and coordinated by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), has secured around £1.8 million from 11 donor businesses.

Funding has so far helped 26 companies take on apprentices, with organisers now calling for more large employers to contribute unspent Apprenticeship Levy funds.

Global businesses including BBC, Amazon and bp have already signed up to provide financial support, while £600,000 is currently available for Tees Valley firms looking to recruit apprentices.

The service connects employers holding unused levy funding with local businesses, allowing money to be transferred to cover apprenticeship training and assessment costs.

Among those benefiting is 26-year-old Beth Brockwell, a business coordinator at Steel River Quay, where she helps coordinate ship movements and imports on the River Tees at Teesworks.

Beth is working towards a leadership and project management qualification with support from levy funding.

She said: “I always knew I wanted to go on and get more experience.

“I would definitely recommend the Apprenticeship Levy for people who may be in full-time roles and want to upskill.

“If you get the chance, go and do it.”

Introduced in 2017, the Apprenticeship Levy is paid by employers with annual wage bills exceeding £3 million at a rate equivalent to 0.5 per cent of their pay bill.

Businesses can use the funding to support apprenticeships within their own workforce, including recruiting new employees and upskilling existing staff.

However, unused funding can be transferred to other employers that do not have their own levy pot, helping cover apprenticeship learning and development costs.

Officials hope attracting further donors will enable more of that unspent funding to remain within the region, supporting smaller businesses while creating career opportunities and strengthening the local skills pipeline.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said: “We’ve attracted huge investors including bp and Amazon to our region to create thousands of jobs

“The levy service is an example of how bringing these big names here creates opportunities far beyond their initial investment.

“We’ve already seen £1.8 million pledged, helping our local businesses recruit apprentices and supporting our young people into careers.

“But there is still so much more we can do.

“I would urge any larger employer with unspent levy funds to get involved and become a donor.

“At the same time, if you run a smaller business looking to grow – and you want to invest in your future – get in touch and see what support is available.

“The jobs are here and there are more coming. 

“We want to make sure local people have the skills to access them. 

“Apprenticeships help build the workforce we need to ensure our young people can have rewarding careers close to home.”

Councillor Lisa Evans, TVCA cabinet member for employment and skills, added: “Apprenticeships can be truly life changing. 

“They provide people with the opportunity to earn, learn and gain valuable experience at the same time, while helping employers build the skilled workforce they need.

“When people think of apprenticeships, they often think of traditional trades, which remain hugely important to our economy.

“But apprenticeships now provide routes into an enormous range of careers, from engineering, manufacturing and construction through to digital, creative, professional and health industries – which are all growing in our region.

“For many young people, an apprenticeship offers a pathway where they can thrive outside a traditional classroom environment, discover their strengths and find a career they are passionate about.

“We’d love to see more large employers come forward and pledge their unused levy funding so even more opportunities can be created across Tees Valley. 

“I’d also encourage businesses of all sizes to explore the scheme and find out how it could help them recruit, develop talent and grow.

“As our region continues to attract investment and create jobs, apprenticeships will play a crucial role in ensuring local people have the skills to seize those opportunities and build successful careers here.”

To find out more about levy opportunities, click here.

Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →

Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.