Large employers in West Yorkshire have pledged a total of £9
million to fund hundreds of apprenticeships in smaller firms.
In a major boost for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), a
new £3 million package for apprenticeships has been announced by
Mayor on Small Business Saturday (7
December).
The new funding is part of a regional scheme that links large
employers with smaller businesses to fund new apprenticeship
opportunities. So far, £6 million from large employers has been
delivered by Mayor Brabin to create 1,000 apprenticeships in
SMEs.
By working with large employers like Bradford-based Morrisons,
the Mayor has helped to ensure that funding which would otherwise
go to the Treasury has instead been used to support local SMEs.
The Mayor praised the large employers that are part of her
apprenticeships scheme for helping to “keep the West Yorkshire
pound in West Yorkshire”, by using the percentage of their annual
pay bill that must be spent on apprenticeships – known as “the
apprenticeship levy” – to support SMEs in the region.
Other large employers to “transfer” some of their apprenticeships
funding to other businesses and public sector organisations
include ASDA, which has funded new apprentice PCSOs and call
handlers in West Yorkshire Police; Howdens, which has boosted the
number of construction workers building vital new infrastructure
for the region; and Card Factory, which has provided funding to
upskill more people into essential healthcare roles, bolstering
the frontline of the NHS.
, Mayor of West Yorkshire,
said:
"By teaming up with our region's biggest businesses, we'll create
£9 million of apprenticeships in smaller firms, giving a thousand
people the skills they need to succeed.
"Our innovative apprenticeships scheme is putting more money in
people's pockets, growing the workforce of our small and
medium-sized businesses, and keeping the West Yorkshire pound
here in West Yorkshire, boosting our economy.
“By partnering with business, we're upskilling people into the
vital jobs we need to build a stronger, brighter region.”
Clare Grainger, Group People and Corporate Services
Director at Morrisons, said:
“We're proud of Morrisons' ongoing commitment to apprenticeships,
building skills and supporting the next generation of leaders in
our company.
"In partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority,
Morrisons has shared £1 million of apprenticeship funding to help
other local businesses and public sector organisations develop
their workforces.
“This is an important part of our commitment to the region and
will help to ensure critical sectors have the skilled
professionals they need."
One of the SMEs supported by Morrisons' apprenticeships funding
is A2Z Learning Centre in
Bradford, which provides childcare for children aged 5 to 15 as
well as wrap-around support for families, including classes for
parents, activities for children, and food vouchers for
struggling households.
Shaziya Younas, Director at A2Z Learning Centre Ltd,
said:
As a director at A2Z Learning Centre, we are thankful to
Morrisons for funding and supporting the Apprenticeship Training
Programme.
This has given us the opportunity to grow as an organisation as
well as provide opportunities for existing and new staff, so they
can engage in learning programmes to enhance our services and
improve the value achieved from having well-trained staff.
Fawziyah, an apprentice at A2Z Learning Centre,
said:
Being on the apprenticeship programme has been amazing, and has
opened many doors for me that I never would have been able to do
myself.
I am thankful for the support that I have had from my managers at
A2Z Learning Centre and the support from my co-workers has also
been phenomenal.
Learning on the job has been the absolute best way for me to gain
new skills for my current role and for the future.
Apprenticeships give people the chance to earn money whilst
gaining the qualifications and experience they need to pursue
their passions and progress into secure, well-paid employment.
More than half (531) of the places funded through the West
Yorkshire Mayor's apprenticeships scheme so far are in the health
and care sector, with hundreds of aspiring pharmacy assistants,
physiotherapists and paramedics currently being trained as a
result of the scheme.
Mayor Brabin is encouraging large employers who are interesting
in pledging some of their apprenticeships funding, as well as
SMEs who could receive some of this funding to take on an
apprentice, to find out more about the scheme online, with a drive
to reach £10 million by the New Year.
Notes to editors
To find out more about the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's
“Apprentice Levy Transfer Service”, visit: wybusiness-skills.com/business-support/skills-and-training/apprenticeship-levy-support/
