Large employers in West Yorkshire have pledged a total of £9m to fund hundreds of apprenticeships in smaller firms.
In a major boost for SMEs a new £3m package for apprenticeships has been announced by Mayor Tracy Brabin this morning on Small Business Saturday.
The new funding is part of a regional scheme that links large employers with smaller businesses to fund new apprenticeship opportunities. So far, £6m from large employers has been delivered 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.
The Mayor of 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 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.”
