Coventry University to transfer £220,000 to apprenticeships fund to support skills development in West Midlands
Wednesday 23 June 2021
Press contact
Coventry University will transfer £220,000 to the Apprenticeship Levy Fund run by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to support apprenticeships in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the West Midlands region.
WMCA is working with the Department for Education (DfE) to pilot a new approach that will transfer unspent levy from participating employers to fund more science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) apprenticeships in SMEs across the region.
Working with the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and regional providers, WMCA will manage the process of finding SMEs and matching them to providers, significantly reducing the administrative impact to apprenticeship levy funding employers.
Coventry University will transfer £220,000 from its apprenticeship levy fund to WMCA, which will match the funds with appropriate apprenticeship providers.
The EFSA will ensure that those receiving the funds from participating employers are wholly responsible for the apprenticeship, including the contractual obligations to the training provider and apprentice, and any subsequent Ofsted inspection.
Over the past two years, the scheme has funded apprenticeship training for more than 600 local SMEs and nearly 2000 learners, keeping levy money within the region to help local businesses grow and upskill their staff.
In making the transfer, you will be fully funding the training of an apprentice in a vital sector for the West Midlands and supporting the region's SME community, helping more people gain essential skills to further drive regional economic growth.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, West Midlands Combined Authority
We are delighted to be part of this scheme, which will give so many people across our region a chance to train in a new profession and develop their skills. We are looking forward to seeing the positive impact that the investment will make to a diverse range of people in addition to our own colleagues at the university, who already have and continue to participate in our apprenticeship programmes for their development.
Samantha Bradford, Director of Talent and Resourcing, Coventry University
Coventry University also offers a wide selection of degree apprenticeships in a range of industries, with training available anywhere in England, in workplaces and on campus.
