Babington & BT Group
Babington, one of the UK’s leading apprenticeship and training providers, is proud to announce a new partnership with BT Group to help unlock £4 million of apprenticeship funding for SMEs, charities, and public sector organisations across England.
This significant collaboration will ensure that smaller businesses and organisations can access vital apprenticeship funding over the next four years, supporting their workforce development and closing critical skills gaps.
Since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in 2017, businesses with annual wage bills of over £3 million have contributed to the levy to fund apprenticeship training. Through this partnership, BT Group will transfer up to £4 million of its apprenticeship levy funds over four years —via Babington to help other businesses train apprentices, as well as upskill their existing employees.
Supporting SMEs and Organisations
As an integral part of this initiative, Babington will match eligible businesses with the right training providers and guide them through the application process, ensuring they can access the necessary funding to drive skills development and growth. Successful applicants will be able to tap into fully funded apprenticeship training within just 20 days, subject to meeting funding criteria.
This partnership with BT Group reflects our shared commitment to unlocking potential through high-quality apprenticeships and training. By providing SMEs with access to these valuable resources, we can help them build stronger, more capable teams that are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. We’re thrilled to support organisations across England in developing the talent they need to thrive.
Jen Bramley
Babington's CEO
The apprenticeship programme at BT has not only shaped our workforce but has also helped set industry standards. By sharing up to £4 million of our apprenticeship levy funds, we’re empowering SMEs to invest in talent and build a more skilled, diverse, and competitive workforce.
Chris Sims
Managing Director for Small and Medium Business at BT
The Apprenticeship Fund has the potential to support up to 550 new apprenticeships, resulting in a projected £21 million positive impact on the UK economy. Babington’s role will be to ensure that this opportunity benefits a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on enhancing digital skills—an area of growing demand across the economy.
Addressing Skills Gaps for Future Growth
With more than a third of mid-sized businesses struggling to recruit apprentices, this new initiative is critical. It will provide essential financial support to help businesses expand their talent pipelines and develop the capabilities needed to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced business environment.
How to Get Involved
The Apprenticeship Fund is available to SMEs, charities, and public sector organisations, including the NHS, across England. It focuses on apprentices aged 22 and above, particularly on digital skills development to help bridge the digital divide and drive social mobility.
Organisations interested in accessing apprenticeship levy funding through Babington and BT Group can register their interest via the BT Group Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service Portal.
About Babington
Babington has been delivering apprenticeships, skills training, and education to learners and organisations across the UK for more than 40 years. Through its diverse range of programmes, Babington is committed to helping individuals unlock their potential and realise the value of their skills. Working closely with employers, Babington also helps organisations build and develop the skills they need to succeed in an evolving business landscape.
For more information, visit Babington’s website.
About BT Group
BT Group is the UK’s leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications and related secure digital products, solutions, and services. The company has recruited more than 3,000 apprentices and graduates over the past five years and earlier this year announced plans to hire a further 500 apprentices and graduates for its September 2024 intake. BT Group consists of three customer-facing units: Consumer, Business, and Openreach.
Find out more about the BT Group's Apprenticeship Fund
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