NewsLFC donates more than £270,000 to local organisations to help upskill workforces

This recent donation is part of the club’s Levy Initiative Scheme, which since its launch in 2020 has donated more than £270,000 to help Liverpool City Region organisations, by transferring part of its unused apprenticeship levy funds to local businesses and charities to support staff training and upskilling.

Some of the levy’s recipients to date include Rotunda, Nugent Care, Positive Futures North Liverpool, Park View Care Home and Homebaked, all of which provide a range of fantastic services from youth development to nursing and education that benefit people in the region’s local authority communities.

Over the past four years LFC's Levy Initiative Scheme has funded apprenticeship training for more than 50 local people. The club has also provided a range of apprenticeship opportunities for its staff in areas including finance, data, grounds management, marketing and leadership.

This week marks National Apprenticeship Week, which for 2024 is celebrating ‘Skills for Life’ and brings together everyone passionate about apprenticeships to highlight the value, benefit and opportunity that they bring.

Matt Parish, chief executive of LFC Foundation, the club’s official charity, which also received some of the funding, said: “We have received such positive feedback on the difference this funding is making here in our local community, and it’s fantastic that we can continue this support via the Levy Initiative Scheme.

“Having the budget available to train and upskill staff is not always available but it’s such an important part of any organisation’s growth and that’s why I’d encourage any small business or charity within the Liverpool City Region to apply and take advantage of this brilliant scheme.”

As one of the newest recipients of the donation, Kean Mason-Buckley, operations manager of Park View Care Home, said: “We will be using our levy donation to invest in our staff and provide them with the opportunity to gain qualifications, which will be the backbone for the home to provide appropriate and person-centred care. We want our organisation to link with the community and not only provide jobs in the area but offer support to people in need of care.”

The Apprenticeship Levy is paid by employers who have a salary bill of more than £3 million per year and is held by the UK government. Businesses can then apply for this funding to pay for apprenticeships and strengthen their employees’ skillset. Up to 25 per cent of a business’ unused levy can be transferred to other businesses.

Any Liverpool City Region business, or charity, can apply for the LFC Levy Initiative Scheme. Simply email LevyInitiative@liverpoolfc.com expressing an interest. Funding applicants will be considered all year round.