Raised In is a social enterprise dedicated to offering high quality Early Years Education to children aged 6 months to 5 years, while also serving the broader communities and organisations within Bristol.

 

With four established Nurseries throughout the city, Raised In not only delivers an essential and much needed service within childcare, they also contribute to the financial stability of local communities. Through their network of nurseries, they address the need for accessible and reliable childcare while simultaneously empowering communities to flourish.

 

Thanks to a generous Levy donation from Bristol City Council via the Western Training Provider Network’s Share to Support Scheme, Raised In have been able to recruit 12 new Apprenticeships in Early Years Education since 2022. These funds have contributed to helping the Early Years sector overcome challenges in maintaining a qualified workforce, enabling Raised In to recruit staff at entry-level positions, and equip them with the necessary training and qualifications to uphold best practices from the outset.

 

“Our vision is to have a city that is fair, full of hope and where everyone has the opportunities to succeed. Through our apprenticeship levy sharing scheme we have been able to help local employers provide apprenticeships, many of which are small to medium sized enterprises and from the voluntary sector, supporting more minoritised groups in Bristol. In total, we have committed £80,000 to Raised In, helping new apprentices to access the training and qualifications they need to start their careers in early years education. This is great news for the children they will work with but also for the families that will benefit from much needed childcare in their local communities.” (Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor with responsibility for Children’s Services, Education, and Equalities)

 

WTPN spoke to Raised In about the positive impact the gifted funds from Bristol City Council have had. They outlined how without these funds, such opportunities may not have been accessible which could potentially lead to further exacerbating issues within the Early Years sector, heightening the demand for more individuals to join the work force.

 

“We are incredibly grateful to be able to access this funding, without which we wouldn’t be able to support apprenticeships. There is, sadly, a huge recruitment crisis currently facing the early years, and we are thrilled to be able to do our bit to help get more passionate and talented individuals into the sector. As part of our commitment to the Real Living Wage, all our apprentices are paid fairly for their work, reflecting how much we value their skills. Our apprentices bring so much to our settings, and we look forward to having them with us for as long as possible once they have qualified.” (Annabel MacGregor CEO of Raised in)

 

Taking on via the apprenticeship route has allowed Raised In to revitalise their Recruitment Approach and address the skills gap. Offering those Apprentices the Real Living Wage, they are busting the myth that Early Years is underpaid and undervalued and instead, prioritising nurturing and investing in individuals, changing the mindset for the future workforce.

 

Apprenticeships are a dynamic way for employers to embrace regional talent, promoting diversity while building local skills to enhance employability and create opportunities within the community. Whether recruiting individuals fresh out of school/sixth form/college, university graduates, or those navigating a career change, these programs provide access to a varied pool of skilled individuals. Employers can choose to upskill existing staff or bring in new talent, tailoring apprenticeships to fit specific job roles. With over 700 national apprenticeship standards, businesses can align training programs with regional needs, fostering inclusivity. As Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes, the training is ‘on the job’ – at the employers' premises, providing a flexible and effective approach to developing and empowering a diverse range of local talent.
 
What is the Share to Support Scheme?
​The Share to Support scheme allows large employers to ‘gift’ their apprenticeship funding to smaller businesses to pay for the apprentice’s training costs. Typically, a small business would pay 5% towards the apprentice’s training. 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.

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 and commissioned by the West of England Combined Authority and UKSPF, 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: Katie.Green@wtpn.org.uk  or Jane.Deane@WTPN.org.uk