Royal Mail has urged small and medium-sized companies to use for its £1 million apprenticeship levy fund throughout Nationwide Apprenticeship Week (9–15 February), because it steps up efforts to assist tackle abilities shortages throughout the SME sector.
Purposes are open for the second spherical of the fund, which is obtainable to companies with as much as 250 workers that promote merchandise on-line. The funding can be utilized for any government-accredited apprenticeship, spanning areas from industry-specific roles to digital advertising, e-commerce, synthetic intelligence and finance.
The initiative types a part of Royal Mail Means Enterprise, a wider marketing campaign designed to champion SMEs and assist their progress. The second £1 million funding spherical was launched in September following the success of the primary, which was launched after joint analysis by Royal Mail and the British Chambers of Commerce recognized abilities gaps as one of many greatest obstacles going through rising companies.
So far, Royal Mail has supported apprenticeships throughout a variety of disciplines, together with advertising, HR, software program growth and knowledge analytics.
Below present guidelines, firms with an annual wage invoice of £3 million or extra are required to pay the apprenticeship levy. As one of many UK’s largest levy-paying employers, Royal Mail has chosen to reward a portion of its levy to smaller corporations, reflecting what it describes as its distinctive function in supporting companies nationwide. Because the UK’s common service supplier, Royal Mail delivers to all 32 million addresses throughout the nation.
Purposes for the newest funding spherical are actually open through the Royal Mail Small Business Hub.
Kieran Judd, interim chief individuals officer at Royal Mail, stated Nationwide Apprenticeship Week was a super second to remind SMEs of the assist out there. “Apprenticeships don’t simply practice people; they strengthen total companies by growing expertise from inside,” he stated.
“We all know many smaller companies need to put money into new abilities however lack the sources to take action. By gifting a part of our levy, we’re serving to to shut that hole and provides SMEs entry to the identical high-quality coaching alternatives as bigger organisations. We’re proud to assist the expansion of the UK’s SME group.”
One firm already benefiting from the scheme is Withnell Sensors, a Lancashire-based specialist in temperature and humidity options, together with vaccine fridges and ultra-low freezers. The enterprise has acquired funding for a Stage 3 laboratory technician apprenticeship.
Samantha Smith, managing director at Withnell Sensors, stated apprenticeships supplied a significant route into the enterprise. “It’s uncommon that we will recruit workers with immediately related expertise, so the apprenticeship scheme permits us to mix in-house coaching with formally recognised {qualifications},” she stated.
“This has added capability to our staff, serving to us keep turnaround occasions for purchasers whereas enabling senior employees to give attention to increasing our accreditation and serving clients in new worldwide markets.”
