The Apprenticeship Levy is a life-line for many charities, large and small

Between May 2020 and February 2021, over £2bn of Apprenticeship Levy funding, paid by organisations, has been left untouched. Third sector investment in learning and development has always been an area of low priority. The impact of the pandemic has led to a further reduction in budgets, and for many organisations, this means that professional development opportunities are being seen as a luxury, rather than a necessity.

Using the Apprenticeship Levy to enhance learning and development strategies can be an effective way to access accredited and professional training, without the usual associated cost. The possibility to receive corporate support means there are even more opportunities for charities to explore how they can utilise levy-funded training.

Since April 2019, companies have had the option to gift up to 25% of their annual Levy to other organisations including charities. Given that many organisations don’t use all of their Levy, gifting the Levy to charity partners provides the opportunity to upskill employees across the not-for-profit sector.

Several Corndel client employers have donated their surplus Levy to a range of charities and smaller companies, so that they can address skills gaps and maximise organisational performance. 

Meet our Professional Development Experts: Lianne Howard-Dace

Meet our Professional Development Experts: Louise Clarke 

All you need to know about Levy gifting and receiving – insights from Zurich and Carers Support Wiltshire