
Conducted alongside the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre and the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), the Close Brothers SME Apprentice Programme will fund 20 roles in the first year.
The merchant banking group, which reportedly had a loan book of £5.5bn at the end of January 2015, will pay for 20 apprentices to learn skills at the AMRC Training Centre. After that, Close Brothers has pledged to fund half of those new recruits’ wages for the first year, and a quarter for the second. This will, the lender said, mean SMEs “won’t have to bear the full cost” of employing an apprentice until a positive contribution to the business is being made. Apprenticeships have featured heavily in the manifestos of the political parties set to go do the polls during the general election on 7 May. The Conservatives have said that money saved in reducing the benefits cap will be used to fund three million new apprenticeships. Meanwhile, Labour has pledged to establish an apprenticeship for every school leaver who makes certain grades. Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats would like to expand apprenticeships and develop national colleges for vocational skills. Explaining the decision by Close Brothers to fund SME apprenticeship positions, the company’s banking division CEO Stephen Hodges said: “We know from our work with SMEs that many would like to take on apprentices but they are worried about the cost, time, and resources involved.- The PwC approach to apprenticeships and training
- Apprenticeships not a corporate social responsibility, but at heart of business
- David Cameron unveils nine new degree apprenticeships
Share this story