Better Business / Member news
Western Training Provider Network Secures £100,000 Boost for Apprenticeships from BBC
The Western Training Provider Network (WTPN) has been granted £100,000 from the BBC’s Apprenticeship Levy fund, aimed at enhancing apprenticeship training within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the West of England. This initiative will facilitate opportunities for individuals aspiring to enter or already working in the creative and digital industries to learn while they earn.
WTPN is among several councils and organisations benefiting from the national broadcaster’s levy funds. The funding will be utilised to encourage SMEs in the region to apply for apprenticeships, enabling them to recruit new talent and develop tailored apprenticeship programs to bolster their businesses.
The Apprenticeship Levy, introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, mandates that organisations contribute a portion of their annual payroll to support the creation of new apprenticeships and the upskilling of current employees. Typically, organisations allocate their levy funds to apprenticeship schemes within their own operations. However, unspent funds can be transferred to SMEs lacking their own levy resources, thus supporting apprenticeship learning and development within these smaller entities.
Sarah Moors, the BBC’s head of apprenticeships, emphasised the significance of apprenticeships in fostering diversity and talent in the media sector. “Apprenticeships provide a vital route into the media for people from a range of backgrounds. In pledging these funds, we hope to support the development of new talent for the creative, cultural and digital sectors, and to equip existing employees with additional skills,” she stated.
This financial boost from the BBC is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy by providing SMEs with the necessary resources to develop skilled professionals. It underscores the collaborative efforts between large organisations and smaller businesses in nurturing the next generation of talent in the creative and digital industries.
Main photo: WTPN
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