National Apprenticeship Week 2025: Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Success Stories

Feb 13, 2025 | News

Sophie Grant

As this year’s National Apprenticeship Week continues to get underway, employers, training providers and apprentices across the UK continue to take the opportunity to celebrate all things apprenticeships – and what truly makes these ‘Skills for Life’.

A key part of our role here at OxLEP Skills is to support employers with their apprenticeship needs, with support including that available through our Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative, through which levy-paying businesses can transfer their unspent funds to smaller businesses within the county, to take on an apprentice.

Unsure as to how this can work and if it’s the right thing for you or your business? Here are case studies of four very different businesses, that have one thing in common – they have all received levy funding from the University of Oxford through OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative:

In Friendship Ltd

In Friendship Ltd are an organisation that pride themselves in ‘delivering high quality, compassionate client-led home care services to older people living in Oxfordshire’. Based in Witney, the team is managed by husband-and-wife duo and directors, John and Taqwa Galpin.

Last Autumn – with the support of OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisors – In Friendship Home Care and Support Services were awarded £14,000 from the University of Oxford to support the full apprenticeship training costs of two Level 5 Leaders in Adult Care.

John Galpin, Managing Director at In Friendship Ltd, said: “Like many care providers, we knew we needed to boost our management team’s knowledge of the care sector, to keep our service running smoothly and by the book. We got in touch with OxLEP Skills to see what help was out there for small businesses wanting to take on apprenticeships.

“The brilliant team at OxLEP went above and beyond to help us. They broke down exactly how small companies can make apprenticeships work and sorted out all the levy funding for us through their pledge initiative. It was honestly so simple – no complex paperwork or hoops to jump through.”

Read our full case study

Oxfordshire Community Foundation

Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) is a charity that has been working in Oxfordshire since 1995 to build thriving communities through effective philanthropy. OCF improves lives and tackles inequality by investing in Oxfordshire’s dynamic charitable sector, with an ambitious goal to be the gold-standard in grant-making.

Last Autumn – with the support of OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisors – OCF were awarded £8,000 from the University of Oxford to support the full apprenticeship training costs of a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Fundraising.

Sophie Grant joined OCF in February 2023 in a newly formed role of Fundraising Assistant, supporting the Head of Development in building strong relationships with existing and new donors.

To complement her role, Sophie undertook a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Fundraising with chosen provider JGA, kindly funded by an apprenticeship levy transfer from the University of Oxford. Over the last 18 months Sophie has been studying alongside her job, gaining skills, knowledge and insights in charitable sector fundraising and has now completed her apprenticeship with a distinction!

Sophie said: “The fundraising apprenticeship has been instrumental in developing my skillset and supporting our work at OCF. It has provided essential knowledge, skills and behaviours for effective fundraising, including a strong understanding of fundraising principles, donor engagement and ethical practices. I’ve gained practical expertise in research, communications, and data analysis, all of which have strengthened my ability to build donor relationships and contribute strategically to OCF’s fundraising efforts.”

Read our full case study

Live Wire

Live Wire have been able to grow their apprenticeship programme from two apprentices to eleven in just over a year, thanks to the transfer of apprenticeship levy funds from the University of Oxford and support from OxLEP Skills. They have been able to upskill existing colleagues and recruit new staff members, which has been instrumental in helping the business continue to grow at pace:

Oxford Creators

Oxford Creators were able to put a member of their team onto an apprenticeship, thanks to an apprenticeship levy transfer from the University of Oxford and support from OxLEP Skills. In this film, we hear from OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisor Leah Bryan, Oxford Creators Founder Veena Virahsammy and Outdoor Learning Specialist Apprentice Hilary John and University of Oxford Career Development Manager Jasmine Morasi:

OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative forms part of OxLEP Skills’ Social Contract Programme – funded by the government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund via Oxfordshire County Council and led by OxLEP Skills.