Stockport businesses have been given a much-needed helping hand to boost apprenticeship opportunities, thanks to a share in a £1.9M package of support that has been distributed amongst the ten Greater Manchester Councils.
The Greater Manchester #SeeDifferent Small-to-Medium Enterprise (SME) Apprenticeship Support will help smaller employers and offer additional incentives and support to remove barriers preventing them from offering apprenticeships.
Local businesses are being given the opportunity to access grants, receive help with training and recruitment, get support with workforce planning as well as advice on creating quality opportunities.
To qualify for a £3000 grant, business need to have less than 250 staff and be based in Stockport. To be eligible, businesses must also:
- Pay at least National Minimum wage for age
- Be a small business not required to pay the Apprenticeship Levy
- Have not employed an apprentice in the last two years
Cllr David Meller, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “This new scheme is a win-win for Stockport. It supports our small businesses, which are essential in ensuring Stockport’s economy continues to be region-beating when it comes to growth, while giving local people the chance to access apprenticeships that can set them up for life.
“I know some employers are put off providing apprenticeship places because of issues to do funding or simply not knowing what’s out there. But with this scheme and the help we can provide, we aim to change this.
“This scheme gives Stockport’s small businesses the tools they need to develop a quality workforce for the future that will help them – and Stockport – grow.
“I encourage businesses interested in finding out more to get in touch with us – we’re ready to help.”
Funding for the package has been made available through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), after another Greater Manchester apprenticeship scheme came in under budget. Levy transfers from large employers, including the public sector, will also be used to support training costs.
All grants needs to be committed by March 2020.
To find out more and to take the next steps in recruiting an apprentice, contact Stockport Council’s Growth Team at: growthteam@stockport.gov.uk or call 0161 474 3736.
You can also visit: WWW.THEAPPRENTICESHIPHUB.CO.UK/SME-APPRENTICESHIP-SUPPORT for more information.