Are you a Warwickshire based SME who is looking to recruit new talent or upskill existing staff? If the answer is yes, Warwickshire Skills Hub, part of Warwickshire County Council, have a range of funding programmes to support you in this.
Future Apprenticeships: Salary Support Programme – If you take on an apprentice in new and emerging technologies such as Vehicle Electrification, Battery Technology, Digital Skills or a standard that supports the Net Zero and Sustainability agenda, you can apply to this fund for £2,000 salary support. Businesses can apply for up to 5 members of staff per financial year.
Future Focus Apprenticeships Programme: New Direction 50+ – SMEs taking on or upskilling an existing member of staff who is aged 50+ can apply to this fund to cover the cost of the 5% employer contribution for their apprenticeship training. Businesses can also apply for up to a maximum of £750 from the Additional Training Fund. This is for training that is identified outside of the apprenticeship standard. This can also be used to match fund an employer contribution should the amount exceed the WCC support. Businesses can apply for up to 5 members of staff per financial year.
New Direction 50+ Skills Investment Fund – This programme is designed to support over 50s in gaining new knowledge and skills to help them progress within the workplace. It’s available to Warwickshire businesses who are wishing to invest in the progression of a 50+ employee to undertake further training which contributes to the future needs of the business. The programme offers up to £1,000 grant funding towards training or a qualification to be delivered by a college or independent training provider. Businesses can apply for up to 5 members of staff per financial year.
If you would like to know more about any of the above funding programmes and how you can apply, please contact Louise Stolz, Future Skills Business Support Advisor: louisestolz@warwickshire.gov.uk.
We also offer the longstanding and widely successful WCC Apprenticeship Levy Share Programme which help businesses cover the associated cost of apprenticeship training, allowing them to address skills gaps and shortages in industry and support growth. We work with businesses to help them explore which apprenticeships meet their business needs, identify a local provider and access Warwickshire County Council’s own levy funds, which can be shared with small and medium sized businesses.
This programme is open to all Non-Apprenticeship Levy paying SMEs within Warwickshire.
Our Apprenticeship Progression Programme is available to Warwickshire businesses wishing to invest in the progression of their staff and build upon a previous qualification which contributes to the new needs of the business. The programme offers a £1,000 incentive which is paid directly to the employer and supported to meet the needs of the business.
If you would like to know more about any of the these funding programmes and how you can apply, please contact Steven Convery, Business Skills Support Advisor: stevenconvery@warwickshire.gov.uk.
