New apprenticeships created thanks to £300k Metroline gift

On #ThankYouThursday, we say thank you to Metroline for leading the future of automotive and electrical apprenticeships. 

Metroline is helping to drive the future generation of automotive and electrical apprentices after gifting 300k in unused apprenticeship levy funds.  

The bus operator transports over one million passengers across London every day, with nearly 100 routes serving customers in one of the busiest capitals in the world.  

In 2020, Metroline gifted £100k of its unused levy to Total People’s £1m in 100 days campaign last year. This year, it has gifted another £200k of its unused apprenticeship levy which will allow small and medium employers to welcome approximately 20 apprenticeships onboard their businesses. 

Stephen Harris, Managing Director, said: “Since Brunel and the Victorians the UK has always been at the forefront in delivering engineering expertise and innovation. Metroline has a proud tradition of providing award-winning and industry-leading apprenticeships and we are pleased we can assist in this way. 

Resources for this area of training are desperately needed in this country. Diverting our unused levy funding benefits similar businesses that understand the value of delivering apprenticeships.

Levy paying employers are those with a wage bill of over £3m and see 0.5 per cent of their payroll go to HMRC to the levy. In April 2019, the Government made it possible for levy-paying employers to ‘gift’ up to 25 per cent of their apprenticeship Levy to fund new apprenticeships.  

By gifting surplus levy, large employers can sponsor an apprenticeship in their chosen sector or industry, while at the same time supporting employment and skills development in SME businesses who benefit from fully-funded apprenticeship training. 

Leanne Shackleton, Levy Gifting Manager, said: “This is a fantastic example of levy gifting from Metroline and one that is truly appreciated. Gifting unused levy really will change the lives of multiple apprentices in the sector by enabling them to upskill and take the next step in their career.”  

Explore our wide range of apprenticeships in the Motor Vehicle sector.