Local Apprenticeship Funding Support Scheme Launched to Help Small Businesses Grow

Small businesses across the West of England are growing their teams through apprenticeships, thanks to thanks to a free impartial expert advice service and a share to support scheme, which covers the costs of apprentice’s training. With over 600 apprenticeship standards now available across a range of sectors, businesses are using the support scheme and government’s £3k apprenticeship incentive to grow their workforce.

 

Share to Support Apprenticeship Scheme
The Share to Support scheme allows large employers to ‘gift’ apprenticeship funding to smaller businesses to pay for the apprentice’s training costs. Run by the West of England Combined Authority and Western Training Provider Network, the scheme aims to keep training funds local and support the growth and recovery of small businesses in the West of England.

Gem Security Ltd
We spoke to Gem Security Systems Ltd, a Bristol based SME who are using the Share to Support apprenticeship transfer scheme to recruit a customer service apprentice.

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"Apprentices are crucial to our business as trained locksmiths are not readily available on the market so we have to grow our own. I am convinced that the future success of the business is dependent on the successful recruiting and development of apprentices.

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We were made aware of the Share to Support levy scheme through the West of England Apprenticeship service and were linked up with Bristol City Council. As a growing business, being able to fund our apprentice’s training costs has been a big help. We’re looking forward to accessing more funding support from the scheme in the future." - Phil Edmonds, Gem Security Ltd

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Through the Share to Support scheme Gem Security Systems were connected with Bristol City Council who gifted £3500 to cover the costs of the apprentice’s training. They will also receive a £3000 grant from the government for taking on a new apprentice.
 

 

The scheme is being promoted as part of the Metro Mayor’s Job and Skills Summit which took place in July this year. Dan Norris visited the business to meet their new apprentices and hear how the company had accessed funding support. Read the full article here: https://www.wtpn.org.uk/single- post/mayor-meets-key-workers-5th-july- 2021

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Are you looking to take on an apprentice, or keen to understand your options for recruiting an apprentice or upskilling your team? Get in touch with our team. Funded by the West of England Combined Authority, we offer a free and independent apprenticeship support service for small businesses in the West of England. We can also help you understand apprenticeship opportunities available for your sector and support you to access apprenticeship funding support through the Share to Support scheme. Get in touch to talk about how we can support you: apprenticeships@wtpn.org.uk 

 

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