A SCHEME set up by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to fund apprenticeship training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has been boosted by a £100,000 donation by international aerospace, defence and energy market business Meggitt.
The Coventry-based firm onated their unspent apprenticeship levy to the WMCA’s Apprenticeship Levy Transfer scheme which sees funds support job opportunities and a boost in skills for local people.
To date, a total of £32.7million has now been pledged to the scheme, which would otherwise have been returned to the government, with 725 SMEs benefiting from the fund.
The scheme has helped 2,280 people obtain an apprenticeship with those being supported coming from a variety of backgrounds including school leavers, graduates and those looking for a change of career.
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “As we bounce back from Covid, the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund continues to be a great way to improve and increase job opportunities for people in our region.
“This substantial donation from Meggitt not only helps our SMEs to hire apprentices that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to, but it also equips local people with the skills they need in order to secure the well-paid jobs of the future.”
The deal agreed with the Government in 2018 was the first of its kind in the country and covers 100 per cent of the apprenticeship training and assessment costs for local SMEs.
The levy money also, boosts skills, job opportunities and productivity by supporting more young people and adults of all ages into work.
Geoff Lloyd, group HR director at Meggitt, said: “We are delighted to support the growth of apprenticeships in SMEs across the West Midlands region through the transfer of £100,000 of apprenticeship levy funds to the West Midlands Combined Authority.
“This will further enable the development of the next generation of talent here in the region.”
