Stoke-on-Trent shared £63,000 with 15 businesses and organisations in the city last year to help them create 37 new apprenticeships.
Employers with an annual payroll of over £3m pay a 0.5 per cent UK Government apprenticeship levy.
The money can then be used by the employer on apprenticeship training. As one of the area’s largest employers, the council pays the levy.
In 2023/24 as well as supporting 106 new people to study for apprenticeship qualification while working for the council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council paid out some of its levy to employers with staff who live in the city.
These included the KMF Group, a sheet metal fabrication company, IAE, who make livestock handling equipment, stabling, and fencing, Staffordshire Police and Teasdale Healthcare.
A total of 15 local employers were then able to help 37 apprentices
Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We’ve got a brilliant record of supporting and creating apprenticeships within the city council using our levy.
“If the money in our levy account is not used every two years, it’s returned to the UK Government. Sadly prior to us taking office the city had to return money to the government for not employing enough apprentices.
“This led to us approaching local employers to see how we could make sure the money was used to do what it was intended to do. The take-up has been fantastic, and it’s led to more people being able to earn money while learning vital skills on-the-job and through studying.
“It was vitally important that we sorted this out and got the most out of every penny due to the city and our young people”
Browns Distribution, High and Lifted, and TMT First are three businesses who have successfully applied for some of the council’s unused levy.
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