DfE launches digital service for advertising levy transfers

The Department for Education has today launched a service where apprenticeship levy payers can advertise when they have funding up for grabs by other businesses.

A help page for the Pledge and Transfer Apprenticeship Funds scheme has been created on the gov.uk website and levy payers can advertise transfers, which can be up to 25 per cent of a levy payer’s allowance, from today using their Digital Apprenticeship Service accounts.

Levy payers will be able to specify the type of apprenticeships they wish to fund, such as by location or sector. Employers can apply for funding from 27 September.

Skills minister Gillian Keegan said she is “pleased” to be making it “easier for smaller and medium-sized businesses to offer apprenticeships,” ensuring “every business can benefit from the productivity and skills of apprentices”.

A pilot to test the new system ran last month, with construction company Mace Group pledging £100,000, with promises of £350,000 to £500,000 each year for other businesses to access. Their funds will be advertised later this month.

Other businesses which took part in the pilot included Amazon pledging £50,000, Thurrock Council with £100,000 and property maintenance business HomeServe pledging £40,000.

Mace Group chief executive Mark Reynolds said the pilot had shown “the huge potential to support the recruitment of more apprentices to meet our skills shortages; and I would encourage every business that meets the criteria to take up the option”.