Acorns secures £45,000 boost to employee training

26th October 2023

Catherine Smith, Jamie Wyton and Nickie Ford smile for a photo

Proud of everything the apprentices have achieved

The Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund was created by the WMCA to cover training costs for more apprentices in the region, through large employers donating a portion of their unspent apprenticeship levy to smaller companies.

The Fund keeps levy money within the West Midlands region by enabling the WMCA to partner large organisations with local smaller companies. This means the large employers donate a portion of their unspent apprenticeship levy funds to the smaller businesses, covering 100% of their apprenticeship training and assessment costs.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the WMCA, said: “This £45,000 boost – made possible thanks to the WMCA Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund – highlights our commitment to upskilling and supporting healthcare professionals.

“This initiative empowers participants to progress to nurse level in professional terms while delivering essential care to local life-limited children.

Nickie Ford, Trainee Nurse Associate

“By nurturing talent in this way, we’re ensuring fantastic care is provided to the children and families who rely on Acorns.”

Jamie Wyton, Clinical Practice Educator

Ensuring fantastic care is provided

“By nurturing talent in this way, we’re ensuring fantastic care is provided to the children and families who rely on Acorns.”

So far, more than £46 million has been contributed as a result of large organisations joining the WMCA partnership, boosting skills and productivity by supporting more young people and adults of all ages into work.

The scheme created approximately 3,500 new apprenticeships at 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses across the region.

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions and support for their families.

In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 700 children and almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.

Acorns needs around £27,000 each day to provide its children’s hospice care, with two thirds of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.

For more information or for interview, photograph or filming opportunities, contact the PR and Communications team at news@acorns.org.uk.

Notes to editors:

Due to the sensitive nature of Acorns care services it refrains from using the words ‘terminal’ or ‘terminally ill’ in its press releases and public communications when describing the children who use Acorns and the conditions that they have. Instead, Acorns uses the words ‘life limited’, ‘life limiting’, or ‘life threatening’. Acorns kindly requests that you respect this in your communications when referring to Acorns Children’s Hospice. Acorns children have a lot of living to do. Thank you.