Firms encouraged to join apprenticeships scheme

Mayor Richard Parker, pictured with former construction apprentice Ky Shaw, is encouraging more businesses to sign up for the scheme

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the West Midlands are being encouraged to take advantage of a scheme to fund more apprenticeships.

So far, the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund has seen more than 5,000 apprentices recruited across the region.

Backed by £51m in pledged donations from larger firms, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) said it meant SMEs could take on apprentices without facing any training costs.

The project is part of Mayor Richard Parker's pledge in June to create 20,000 work experience, training and apprenticeship places to tackle unemployment in the region.

HSBC, Amazon, Compass Group, Lloyds Banking Group, Birmingham City Council, Dudley MBC, Sandwell Council, Coventry Council, National Express, Wesleyan, University of Warwick and the BBC have donated nearly £3.8m, supporting 216 SMEs and 563 apprentices.

The businesses involved cover 100% of the training cost by donating their unspent apprenticeship levy to the WMCA rather than giving it back to HM Revenue and Customs.

Parker said apprenticeships were a "fantastic opportunity for people to get the skills they need".

"It's a great scheme for our businesses too - helping them to attract future talent, up-skill their existing workforce and help them grow - now and in the future", he said.