Unlocking Opportunity: Capita's £1M Apprenticeship Levy Gift Sets the Standard in Corporate Philanthropy
From Levy to Legacy
“It’s a no-brainer” declares Claire Bolton, the Emerging Talent and Professional Development Manager at Capita, when asked about Capita’s decision to gift £1 million of their Apprenticeship Levy pot to charity partners.
In a world where corporate social responsibility is becoming increasingly important, one company is setting an example by utilising its apprenticeship levy to make a difference to people's lives.
With a unique role that spans multiple areas, Claire knows the value of sharing Capita's substantial levy pot with charity partners. This philanthropic gesture aligns perfectly with Capita’s corporate values and commitment to making a positive impact as a business.
Our organisation, being large and fortunate to possess a substantial levy pot, is consistently exploring ways to support our colleagues internally.
However, we've not reached a point where we can fully utilise all these funds. Rather than letting them go to waste, why not channel our resources towards supporting external organisations and charity partners?
It's a decision that, in our eyes, is an unequivocal opportunity to make a positive difference."
"Gifting our apprenticeship levy is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.
For Capita, gifting their levy has been a straightforward and seamless process. Working closely with Corndel, they can identify beneficiaries and ensure the funds are utilised effectively. Claire emphasises the importance of providing context and purpose when gifting, making the process even more straightforward.
The Transformative Impact of Levy Gifting on the NSPCC
One of the organisations to which Capita have generously gifted its Levy is the NSPCC, which has benefited from several learners undertaking leadership programmes with Corndel.
Francine Kennedy, Apprenticeship Programme Manager, talks about their remarkable journey in harnessing the power of the Apprenticeship Levy Gifting:
“With the cost of living crisis and the impact of COVID, charitable giving has decreased. Like other organizations in the sector, we needed to make changes to ensure our mission's success, and do more with less. Having employees on the apprenticeship programmes, in collaboration with Corndel and supported by Capita, has been incredible for us.
It has allowed us to identify training needs across each directorate to meet our strategic goals, meaning our workforce remains highly skilled, and it empowers us to adopt innovative approaches to challenges.
It enables us to work in an agile manner, making the most of every opportunity we have. It ensures our teams remain at the forefront of operational excellence, delivering the best service possible to children and families."
She also mentions the transformative impact on the individuals:
“Individuals have benefited so much from the apprenticeship programme. Many have been promoted, and others have said that the programme has given them the skills and knowledge they need to progress in their careers. It’s really boosted morale and shown employees that the organisation is invested in their development.”
Bridging the Skills Gap
In an environment where training budgets were shrinking, NSPCC saw apprenticeship programmes as a lifeline to maintaining a highly skilled workforce. Francine emphases the benefits the Level 7 Executive Development programme has given the organisation in particular:
"Climbing the corporate ladder often leads to a point where people feel they've reached a limit. They might think, 'I've got plenty of experience and knowledge, what's the next step for me?' At NSPCC, we're dedicated to ensuring that our team members never feel restricted by any artificial ceilings on their potential. We want everyone to know that there are always opportunities for growth.
In particular the Executive Development Programme addresses this critical need. It's honestly the perfect solution for us.
Being able to offer the qualification is such a valuable asset for us. It strengthens our appeal as an organisation that provides a wide range of benefits and demonstrates that we have valuable partnerships”
"Being able to offer the qualification is such a valuable asset for us. It strengthens our appeal as an organisation that provides a wide range of benefits and demonstrates that we have valuable partnerships".
Aligning Levy Gifting with Corporate Values
Capita's levy gifting strategy aligns perfectly with their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and values. It reduces inequality in professional development and supports diversity, contributing to the growth of smaller organisations and social enterprises.
Claire offers valuable advice to organisations considering gifting their apprenticeship levy. For organisations new to the concept of levy gifting, Claire encourages them to seek guidance from learning providers and absorb knowledge to make the most of their funds.
"The ease or complexity of gifting your levy largely depends on the provider you choose to work with. Some organisations might prefer a hands-off approach, simply entrusting providers with their levy funds and a mandate to use them for maximum impact, aligning with their strategy. Others might opt for a more hands-on involvement, delving into the nitty-gritty details, seeking a deeper understanding of how their levy investment translates into tangible effects, impacts, and operational efficiencies. It's a flexible process tailored to each individual's preferences and objectives."
The team will attempt to get better insight into who Capita gifts to, and how they track and manage the funds to maximise their impact.
Collaboration with different teams within the organisation, such as responsible business and growth teams, will be crucial to align their strategy with their CSR goals.
Capita's journey of apprenticeship levy gifting is an inspiring example of corporate philanthropy and responsible business practices.
Their commitment to reducing inequality, supporting diversity, and positively impacting communities through strategic levy gifting is a testament to the power of corporate social responsibility.
Help deliver impact to the third sector with Levy gifting
What is the Corndel Levy Pledge?
Large corporate employers in the UK pay the Apprenticeship Levy, a tax that sets aside specific workplace training funds. Many of these organisations find themselves with surplus Levy funds that they cannot use. If these funds go unspent, they are returned to the Government.
We designed the Corndel Levy Pledge to solve this problem.
We deliver a value-driven opportunity for organisations to gift their surplus Levy to charities, making a real difference to the third sector.
Delivered by our dedicated charities team, we purposefully match companies to third-sector organisations that align with their corporate social responsibility values and work closely with them to embed long-term sustainable relationships that drive impact and deliver quality training opportunities.
Supported by Corndel, we aim to help all charities access Levy-funded apprenticeship training by delivering a seamless Levy gifting process.
Why should you gift your Levy?
Corndel delivers over 95% of the Fundraising Apprenticeship Programmes in the UK. Supported by our dedicated charities team, we've built relationships nationwide with charities to help your organisation achieve the highest possible social impact.
Gifting your unspent Levy can have a substantial social impact - not just on the growth of the Third Sector, but on entire communities they support.
By gifting your surplus Levy through Corndel, we'll match your Levy pledge with an apprenticeship in a sector or industry area that aligns with your corporate social responsibility values.
Your organisation can support skills development and employability through fully funded apprenticeship training routes.
Use your unspent Levy funds to fund apprenticeship training programmes which will change lives.
Did you know...
Up to 50% of your apprenticeship Levy funds could be gifted to charities and smaller businesses instead of it being returned to Government.
With over £3bn since 2019 being sent back to the government, organisations driving change in our communities are struggling to upskill their staff to meet the required service demands. Together, we can begin to change this.
"The coaching was the best part of the programme. It helped me to implement what I was learning into my job effectively. It also helped me to learn more through my coach's expertise."
Want to align your Levy pledge to an organisation with similar social responsibility values?
Talk to our team, and we'll help facilitate the right match for your business.