Transforming Futures: Somerset Council and SS&L celebrate successful partnership during National Apprenticeship Week 2024

As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2024 celebrations, SS&L are proud to highlight the success of its collaboration with Somerset Council and the impactful levy transfers that have supported local employers. Currently, SS&L oversees 62 apprentices across 42 employers, all benefiting from training funded by Somerset Council’s levy transfer.

The apprenticeship levy is a tax whereby employers with an annual wage bill over £3 million pay 0.5% of their payroll into their apprenticeship levy account. Employers can then utilise this to fund apprenticeships within their organisation or share up to 25% of their accrued funds with other employers to fund their apprenticeship training costs. If the funds are not utilised, they are paid back to central government.

Dave West, Head of Employer Engagement at SS&L, expressed gratitude for Somerset Council’s invaluable support, stating, “The support from Somerset Council has been valuable to many employers who would otherwise need to contribute 5% of the training cost of the apprenticeship. By Somerset Council sharing their levy with other employers, they have made the prospect of training an apprentice more appealing to employers by removing the barrier of a training cost. SS&L are pleased to work with Somerset Council to support employers with levy transfers and look forward to working together to support more employers to take on an apprentice in the future.”

Sara Fennelly, Early Years Academy Manager at Little Discoveries, emphasised the positive impact of the levy transfer. “Investment in apprenticeship programmes using the levy transfer from Somerset Council allows us to enhance and grow our small group of nursery settings without a cost implication. The Early Years apprenticeship programme from SS&L works well for us as a company allowing us to develop apprentices into qualified members of our team and invest in further apprentices. The course is fully funded, having a positive impact for the company alongside supporting staff to become qualified.”

SS&L continues to champion apprenticeship opportunities and workforce development in collaboration with Somerset Council, fostering a brighter future for both employers and apprentices in the area.

If you’re an employer interested in bringing an apprentice on board, contact our Customer Engagement Team on enquiries@sslcic.co.uk or 0330 332 7997.