Guidance for businesses wanting to transfer their unspent levy funding

There are potentially millions of pounds of unspent apprenticeship levy funding, paid by businesses in Leeds City Region, expiring in apprenticeship service accounts. We want to stop this from happening and ensure funding is put to good use in supporting the future workforce and local economy. 

If you want your apprenticeship levy to work better for your organisation, local businesses and your local community, we're here to help.

Read how our work with ASDA helped create 10 apprenticeships with Twinkles Nurseries. Click here.

The apprenticeship levy

If your business is not spending all of its levy funding, we can help you to transfer up to 25% of your annual levy contribution to fund apprenticeships in other organisations.

This means your levy will be supporting local people and businesses, instead of expiring in your apprenticeship service account. A transfer can also benefit your business, as your unspent levy funds can:

• make SMEs in your supply chain more efficient and improve your own business performance
• increase skills in your sector and the future talent
• raise your profile in the local community by funding apprenticeships in charities and organisations that support your corporate social responsibility policy

Please click here to view our Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Toolkit.

I’m interested in using our apprenticeship levy funding to employ our own apprentices, what help and support is available? 

Apprentices can have a positive impact on your business by allowing you to recruit the talent you need and tailor skill-sets, while keeping training costs low. Our research with local businesses found that:

• 86% of businesses said their apprentice helped to fill skills gaps
• 78% said hiring an apprentice improved productivity
• 83% said they would recommend an apprentice to another business

You can use your levy funding to fund apprenticeships in your own business, helping you to fill skills gaps and increase productivity. Our Employment Hub can provide advice and help you through the process of recruiting an apprentice.