New £90,000 fund unveiled to boost apprenticeship opportunities

We’re committed to building a strong and inclusive local economy, and to helping all residents to access good work. Apprenticeships are a key part of this; they give people the skills and experience to build a career and they are also a fantastic way for employers to develop the skilled workers that they need.

The new fund Lewisham Apprenticeship and Workforce Development Fund will help local small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to recruit more apprentices. Created from our unspent apprenticeship levy funds, the Lewisham Apprenticeship and Workforce Development Fund will be worth £90,000 a year. SMEs will be able to apply to the Fund which can either be used to train new apprentices recruited to the organisation, or to upskill or retrain existing workers.

Launching the scheme during National Apprenticeship Week, Councillor Joe Dromey, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Jobs and Skills, said: ‘We are committed to building an economy that works for the many, and apprenticeships are a vital part of this. Apprenticeships are a great way for employers to get the skills they need; whether that be through recruiting new apprentices to their organisation, or using apprenticeship funding to upskill existing workers.

‘We want to help more local residents to access high quality apprenticeships, and we want to support more local employers to invest in the skills of their workforce. So we hope that local small businesses will take us up on this offer through the Lewisham Apprenticeship and Workforce Development Fund.’

Local businesses must apply directly to our Apprenticeship Team. There are a number of criteria they are expected to meet, including:

• paying new apprentices joining the organisation at least the National Minimum Wage for employees aged 21 and over – which will be £7.70 during 2019/20
• recruiting new apprentices to their organisations via the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Programme.