Asda donates £30k to support Manchester apprenticeships

Asda has announced plans to donate £30k to small businesses across Manchester to help fund 60 apprenticeships in the area.

The group is working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) who is helping distribute an initial £300,000 to local businesses.

An apprenticeship levy is paid by large businesses and as part of that proposal, Asda said it has opted to transfer a “portion of its annual funds” to pay for apprentices to train in small businesses within local communities. 

The chain said it hopes it gives young people the “opportunity to develop new skills and small businesses the support to develop young talent that they may otherwise not be able to afford”.

Andrew Western, lead for digital, education, skills, work and apprenticeships, at GMCA said: “Greater Manchester’s Levy Matchmaking Service makes it easy for businesses to share unspent levy funding.  

“With big businesses like Asda getting behind the scheme, we’re excited to see even more opportunities created in Greater Manchester, as part of a thriving local economy as we recover from the pandemic and beyond.”

Hayley Tatum, chief people officer, at Asda said: “We understand how vital apprenticeships are to companies big and small – providing opportunities for growth and also for young people to gain employment and vital new skills.

“Throughout the pandemic we have done all we can to support our local communities – not just as a supermarket, but as a large business with the ability to have a real impact in the communities we serve.” 

She added: “We understand that now, more than ever small businesses and people in our communities need support due to the scale of the economic and social impacts of Covid-19. We are delighted with how our own apprenticeship scheme is progressing and we are excited to see the positive impacts this investment will have.”