A SCHEME set up by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to help cover the costs of apprenticeship training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has now funded more than 5,000 apprentices.
Over 2,500 businesses have benefited from around £51 million of pledged donations from larger, levy paying companies, through the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund.
Coun Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, launched a pledge in June last year to create 20,000 work experience, training and apprenticeship places as part of his Jobs for Everyone Priority and to tackle unemployment in the region which in some areas is twice the national average.
He said: “Not long after becoming Mayor, I met Ky, who told me how he turned his life around after someone recognised his potential, helping him land an apprenticeship in construction.
“Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for people to get the skills they need to pursue the career they dream of – just like Ky did.
“Through the Apprenticeship Levy Scheme, we’ve secured £51m of funding and opened up 5,000 opportunities for our residents.
“It’s a great scheme for our businesses too – helping them to attract future talent, upskill their existing workforce and help them grow – now and in the future.”
Those SME’s accessing the scheme see their training costs reduced to zero, enabling them to reinvest that money into recruiting additional apprentices or increasing apprenticeship pay to attract more candidates.
Visit www.apprenticeships.gov.uk for more information.
