Small business apprenticeship opportunities boosted

During the recent National Apprenticeship Week (6-12 February), hygiene services provider, phs Group, announced it has shared over £85,000 in vital funding with small businesses to offer apprenticeship opportunities.

phs has over 100 colleagues on apprenticeship programmes but has also been supporting an array of companies by transferring funds under the apprenticeship levy it pays the government, to help them train and upskill their own staff, which they would otherwise be unable to do.

Large apprenticeship levy-paying businesses such as phs, which has its headquarters in Caerphilly, Wales, can pledge up to a quarter of their unspent levy funds to support other businesses in taking on apprentices. Companies that have benefited from phs’ ‘apprenticeship vouchers’ for 2022/23 span early year providers, adult care and financial services.

Mike Winstone, group HR director at phs, said: “At phs, we have seen the huge benefits to be gained from offering apprenticeships, not only for colleagues’ career progression and personal development, but in the value that brings to our company and, ultimately, our customers. We currently have 130 new and experienced colleagues undertaking apprenticeships. We recognise that there are many smaller companies that are equally passionate about providing apprenticeship opportunities, not least those that play an important role in their communities, but don’t necessarily have access to the funds required to invest in ongoing training and development. We are therefore delighted to have provided £85,000 through our apprenticeship levy to support a number of organisations in nurturing talent, upskilling their workforce and boosting career progression and personal development.”

www.phs.co.uk