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.
OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative sees apprenticeship levy-paying organisations (those with an annual pay bill of £3m+) with unused levy funds, able to transfer these to other organisations within the county for their own apprenticeship needs – rather than losing them back to the Treasury.
As 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 – a team of Oxfordshire Skills and Employability Advisors are in place to offer support and guidance to the county’s businesses looking for apprenticeship support.
This pre-funded (at no cost to the employer) support includes helping employers to unlock their apprenticeship levy and enabling smaller organisations to access unused levy to start or develop their apprenticeship schemes. It also includes support for employers and training providers along the apprenticeship journey, with a strong focus on the timely completion of the apprenticeship.
Skills and Employability Advisor Leah Bryan supported the team at OCF in matching them with the University of Oxford to facilitate an apprenticeship levy transfer.
Sophie Grant (pictured) 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 says: “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.
“The apprenticeship has also helped me develop vital personal skills like confidence, resilience, and problem-solving, empowering me to navigate challenges and engage funders effectively.
“This opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without the invaluable support and guidance from Leah at OxLEP Skills, as well as the apprenticeship levy transfer from the University of Oxford. Thanks to OxLEP’s apprenticeship grant scheme, which was available at the time, I received assistance with costs like a bus pass, office attire and home-working equipment, ensuring I was well-equipped for both remote and office work.”
Following her successful apprenticeship, Sophie now takes on the role of Development Officer.
This National Apprenticeship Week, why not consider apprenticeships as a means to upskill your own team? Help keep up with industry standards whilst maintaining an established workforce, like the team at Oxfordshire Community Foundation.