A new government service will help businesses to create apprenticeship opportunities and help with the employer apprenticeship training costs.
Large businesses will be able to pledge funds to other businesses through a new online service, and help create more apprenticeship opportunities.
The online service will be rolled out from the 13th September 2021 to make it easier for large employers that pay the Apprenticeship Levy to spend their current levy funds.
Large employers can already transfer up to 25% of their annual levy funds to support other companies to take on apprentices. Many big brand employers have already taken advantage of this opportunity including Amazon, Lloyds Band and Co-op to support other businesses with an apprenticeship funding boost.
The new service will simplify the process for both employers looking to transfer funds and businesses wanting to access funding. Now, levy paying employers can advertise their funding pledges on a dedicated gov.uk site, enabling employers to browse and apply for levy funding.
It will mean levy funding can be used more easily to support apprenticeships in different sectors or regions, helping to address skills gaps in sectors such as construction, health, digital and the creative industries.
Levy paying employers including Mace Group, Amazon and University Hospital of Leicester NHS Trust have already pledged £635,000 for the 2021/22 financial year with many more expected to pledge in the coming weeks.
Other employers that have pledged funds during the pilot scheme include:
• Amazon - £50,000
• HomeServe - £40,000
• Thurrock Council - £100,000
• London Borough of Islington - £30,000
• Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust - £75,000
• University Hospital of Leicester NHS Trust - £200,000
• East Sussex County Council - £40,000
Quest Training have successfully worked with transferred levy funds over the years, and have been able to help train staff in the health sector across the South East. If you would like to know more, contact us for more details.
