Please could I request the following information:

1. Apprenticeship levy contribution in 2018, 2019 & 2020
2018: £404,058.67 received.
2019: £411,132.93 received.
2020: £418,683.64 received.

Note: Figures include Schools and Council.

2. What was the levy draw down?
2018: We spent £40,078.15 of the above amount.
2019: We spent £150,408.64 of the above amount.
2020: We spent £230,260.02 of the above amount.

3. What proportion of the council's contribution was spent by the council on apprenticeships?
2018: 10%
2019: 37%
2020: 55%

Note: When the apprenticeship levy was first introduced in April 2017 there was a delay in availability of apprenticeship frameworks and standards so uptake was initially low.

It was also announced that from August 2020 apprenticeship frameworks would be withdrawn and only standards could be undertaken – this saw the removal of some of our popular apprenticeship programmes and also saw the duration of apprenticeships increase in order to meet the requirements of the apprenticeship standards in place.

4. How much unspent levy was transferred?
We have not transferred out unspent levy.

5. Total number of apprentices at the council in 2018, 2019 & 2020
2018: 46 apprentices.
2019: 94 apprentices.
2020: 94 apprentices.

Note: Unfortunately, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the number of apprentices starting in 2020.