£1.8 million invested in apprenticeships for Yorkshire businesses

Since October 2021, The Apprenticeship Hub has provided free support to employers across York, North Yorkshire and East Riding to build their businesses through the uptake of apprenticeships, with £1.8 million being invested in the service.

When The Apprenticeship Hub first began it aimed to support at least 577 individuals across 57 businesses by June 2023. As of August 2022, The Apprenticeship Hub has already worked with over 75 businesses and now foresees supporting over 150 Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the lifetime of the service.

The Apprenticeship Hub’s expert Apprenticeships Advisers offer free and impartial support. They can guide employers through processes such as recruiting new apprentices, upskilling current employees through apprenticeship qualifications, choosing an apprenticeship standard and provider, and accessing grants and funding.

In addition to practical support with the recruitment of apprentices, The Apprenticeship Hub also provides employers with access to free training and qualifications to prepare their business to support the apprentices, in areas such as team leading, mentoring, health and safety, and recruitment.

Wraparound support is also provided to the apprentices themselves, allowing them to build additional skills during their training, including employability, functional and digital skills, and effective communication.  

The Apprenticeship Hub aims to deliver at least 200 Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications to individuals across the region.

The Apprenticeship Hub is managed by Calderdale College, in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Anna Bennett, Workforce Skills Development Manager for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, says, “Hiring apprentices and offering apprenticeship qualifications to existing staff are fantastic ways for employers to equip their workforce with the right toolkit of skills to meet both their needs. We are proud to be a Delivery Partner for The Apprenticeship Hub, supporting the uptake of apprenticeships across our region.”

To find out more about The Apprenticeship Hub and book a free initial consultation, visit www.apprenticeship-hub.co.uk.

The Apprenticeship Hub is part-funded by the European Social Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

If you’d like to find out more about the skills, training and workforce development opportunities available to you, visit our Skills Hub for resources, links and contacts.

If you’d like to learn more about the business support in your area, please get in touch with the Growth Hub online or by calling Faye on our helpdesk for free on 0800 246 5045.