Acorns Children’s Hospice has announced a £145,000 boost towards employee training, thanks to a leading global glass manufacturer.

Nippon Sheet Glass Ltd (NSG) has pledged the generous amount to support Acorns in upskilling its workforce over the coming year, by giving the charity’s employees access to specialist on-the-job training.

Representatives from Redditch-based Pilkington Automotive, part of the NSG family, visited Acorns for the Three Counties in Worcester to announce the funding, which has been made available through the UK’s Apprenticeship Levy scheme.

Stephanie Newell from the Talent Acquisition and Development team at Acorns, said: “We are incredibly grateful to NSG and Pilkington Automotive for pledging such a wonderful amount. It gives us a fantastic opportunity to enhance the training offer for our incredible teams and the vital care and support they provide to hundreds of local families.

“Learning and development is a key priority at Acorns, and we are committed to ensuring everyone at the charity has an opportunity to thrive. Levy gifting allows us to invest in our people and ‘grow-our-own’ talent through a wide range of qualifications, from specialist pediatric palliative care nurses, to accredited coaches that support teams to deliver organisational goals.

“We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to NSG for this continued pledge to support, this gift will be transformational for the future of Acorns.”

The Apprenticeship Levy scheme aims to create sustainable funding for qualifications and apprenticeships across the UK and allows levy-paying employers to transfer up to 25% of their funds to other employers, helping smaller organisations like Acorns invest more in training opportunities.

Emma Neal, HR Director UK and Global Functions at NSG, said: “At NSG, we understand how valuable the Apprenticeship Levy is to develop and upskill workforces to be ready for the future, and are delighted to pledge £145,000 to support Acorns to deliver its 24/25 development targets. This is the first time that NSG has transferred its Apprenticeship Levy, and we are happy that it will make a significant difference to Acorns’ workforce and the children and families they care for.”