Bishop Auckland based Learning Curve Group has demonstrated the benefits of applying the Apprenticeship Levy to support business growth with the recruitment of 24 young people to its new Purple People Academy.
The national training and education provider has created the academy by utilising its contribution to the Government’s levy scheme to help develop focused career paths for its workforce.
This includes going beyond the levy to also provide upskilling and personal development opportunities for the organisation’s 300-strong workforce and uses a training model that has been successfully applied by Learning Curve Group for employers across the UK.
As part of the Purple People Academy the 24 new apprentices will support a number of Learning Curve Group’s growing teams by undertaking programmes in areas such as Customer Service, Graphic Design, IT, Data Analysis and Business Administration .
Apprentice Charlotte Parsonage said: “I am really looking forward to being one of the first members of the Purple People Academy. This apprenticeship will help me gain new skills and qualifications that will help me in my future career with Learning Curve Group.”
As part of their training, the apprentices, will have the opportunity to work across a range of departments at Learning Curve Group including marketing, accounts, training programme development and sales.
Providing the young people with a comprehensive knowledge of the business, the academy structure will also help the apprentices understand the career progression opportunities available within the group.
The academy will complement the existing internal training and development opportunities at Learning Curve Group and more than doubles the number of apprentices working and training at the organisation. As a result, one in six of the organisation’s employees are apprentices.
In addition to supporting the creation of a sustainable workforce, Learning Curve Group has founded the academy in response for the increased demand for its services, including from companies applying their Apprenticeship Levy contribution.
It’s bespoke, industry-focused apprenticeship programmes, delivered by sector-experienced trainers, are part of a suite of integrated education and training services that support recruitment and personal development such as helping unemployed people gain skills and qualifications required to embark on a new career path.
In addition, it provides range of accredited courses for companies looking to increase the skills of their employees, which are often accessed through dedicated online resources that can be accessed from any location.
Brenda McLeish, CEO of Learning Curve Group, said: “Applying the Apprenticeship Levy can be the key to unlocking a more comprehensive training strategy for businesses, which is where the Purple People Academy fits into our organisation.
“We have helped clients in sectors such as accountancy and hospitality apply the academy model, utilising the levy contribution for apprenticeships, but also deliver a broader approach to training and development that supports everything from recruitment to the upskilling of the existing workforce.”
Brenda added: “I am really impressed with our first group of Purple People Academy apprentices; they are brimming with enthusiasm and talent, which will make them a great fit into Learning Curve Group and be a real advantage as they embark on their long-term careers with the organisation.
“Lots of these young people would have previously engaged in a university pathway, but the opportunities offered through apprenticeships enables them to ‘earn while they learn’.”
