The Leeds Anchors Network plays a vital role in promoting and facilitating apprenticeships in Leeds, offering both degree apprenticeships for upskilling staff and traditional apprenticeships for newcomers. They employ over 300 degree apprentices across 11 institutions and support thousands of individuals in apprenticeship programs each year, demonstrating their commitment to shared financial investment and skills development.
What is the Leeds Anchors Network’s role in apprenticeships?
The Leeds Anchors Network is pivotal in promoting and facilitating apprenticeships, bridging the skills gap by offering degree apprenticeships for upskilling staff and traditional apprenticeships for newcomers. They employ 328 degree apprentices across 11 institutions and support over 5,000 individuals in annual apprenticeship programs, with a commitment to shared financial investment and skills development.
Bridging the Skills Gap Through Apprenticeships
The Leeds Anchors Network is taking a significant step this National Apprenticeship week by emphasizing their collaborative work on apprenticeships in the city. These initiatives are not just about creating job opportunities; they are a cornerstone for enhancing the skills of individuals within the community. The Network’s focus is twofold: implementing degree apprenticeships for upskilling current staff and offering traditional apprenticeships to welcome newcomers into various organizations.
Statistics from the 2021/22 period reveal that Anchor organizations employed 328 degree apprentices. This impressive number was spread across 11 Anchor institutions, encompassing a wide array of fields such as leadership, healthcare, and engineering. In Leeds alone, the uptake of apprenticeships is robust, with over 5,000 individuals starting new apprenticeship programs annually.
The support for apprenticeships is not short-termed or narrow in scope. Several organizations within the Leeds Anchors Network are apprenticeship levy payers. They utilize these funds to not only finance degree apprenticeships for their teams but also to contribute up to 25% of their levy to smaller enterprises, aiding them in addressing their skill shortages.
Investment in Education and Skills Development
The commitment within the Leeds Anchors Network extends to a substantial financial investment in skill development. Organizations have reportedly spent millions on this front, with some even sharing a quarter of their Apprenticeship Levy to assist other entities in Leeds. This collaborative effort serves as a testament to the city’s dedication to closing skills gaps and fostering professional growth amongst its workforce.
Peter Slee, Chair of the Leeds Anchor Network and Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Beckett, emphasized the value of degree apprenticeships. His statement underlines the significance of strong partnerships and shared dedication to making these educational pathways successful. He highlighted that “Making a success of degree apprenticeships takes commitment and dedication to partnership working from students, employer partners, and our many colleagues here at Leeds Beckett University.”
Furthermore, training for these apprenticeships is an ongoing process. Leeds College alone has trained over 5,396 apprentices since 2020. The college offers a variety of standards across 13 different sectors and continues to recruit for the upcoming year. This relentless push toward education and skills training is indicative of a city that is not only investing in its present but also securing its future.
Leeds Anchors Network: A Civic Partnership
The Leeds Anchors Network, established in 2018, is a consortium of 14 major employers in Leeds. This includes pivotal sectors such as the council, NHS trusts, and educational institutions. They converge with a common goal to make a difference in the lives of the local community as employers, service providers, and civic partners.
Understanding the Apprenticeship Levy is crucial. It is a fund established by the government, collected at a rate of 0.5% from large employers’ pay bills, specifically from those with pay bills exceeding £3 million. This pool of funds is earmarked to finance new apprenticeships, signifying a nationwide commitment to vocational training and development. More information about the Apprenticeship Levy is available on the UK government’s official website.
For those seeking more insight into the Leeds Anchors Network and their impact through case studies, more details can be found on the Leeds Anchors | Inclusive Growth Leeds webpage. This resource serves as a hub for understanding how Leeds is pioneering inclusive growth and offering opportunities that extend beyond the conventional employment landscape.
In an era where the global economy demands agility and advanced skill sets, Leeds sets an example. Through the Leeds Anchors Network’s diligent efforts, the city is not only addressing immediate needs but also paving the way for a resilient and skilled workforce. The strides made by these organizations reflect a commitment to educational excellence and professional development that will no doubt resonate for years to come.
- The Leeds Anchors Network promotes and facilitates apprenticeships in Leeds, offering both degree apprenticeships and traditional apprenticeships.
- They employ over 300 degree apprentices across 11 institutions and support thousands of individuals in apprenticeship programs each year.
- The network aims to bridge the skills gap by providing opportunities for upskilling current staff and welcoming newcomers into various organizations.
- Several organizations within the network contribute up to 25% of their apprenticeship levy to smaller enterprises to help them address skill shortages.
- The Leeds Anchors Network is a consortium of 14 major employers in Leeds, working together to make a difference in the local community.