Santander has pledged £1m to support small and medium businesses (SMEs) in the Leeds City Region with new apprenticeship programmes over the next two years.
In partnership with Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP), Santander will transfer part of its Apprenticeship Levy Fund to local SMEs to fund the recruitment and training of apprentices predominantly in the care sector.
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The fund will also help support businesses looking to build digital skill sets within their companies.
The commitment through the government-backed Apprenticeship Levy scheme ensures that unspent levy goes towards supporting businesses.
The region had “an incredibly challenging year”
The funds will help them finance their own apprenticeship programmes where they may not have previously been able to benefit from the apprenticeship levy.
The new schemes will cover the costs of recruitment and training of apprentices. This will enable businesses to thrive and will provide investment into career developing opportunities for many within the local area.
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By GlobalDataNathan Bostock, Santander UK’s CEO said:
“The region’s SMEs have had an incredibly challenging year, but they are vital to the future of the local economy and employment.
“By committing apprenticeship levy funds in this way, we want to enable local businesses to benefit from new skills and talent. This will help them to boost their productivity and recover as quickly as possible from the pandemic.”
Beneficiaries will include care sector and technology sector
The transfer of funds of £500,000 per year over two years will go towards over 100 level two and level three apprenticeship programmes.
The beneficiaries will include various industries, including the care sector and the digital technology sector.
The LEP will support the new apprenticeships programmes by sourcing training providers with expertise to deliver the appropriate standard.
The training providers will also manage applications from SMEs across the Leeds City region including areas such as Bradford and Wakefield.
