NewsLiverpool FC provides vital funding for three local charities

LFC's Levy Initiative Scheme was launched in 2020 in a bid to help local Anfield organisations. The scheme involves transferring the club's unused apprenticeship levy pot and gifting to local businesses, or charities, so they are able to fund staff training and planning.

Matt Parish, CEO of LFC Foundation, said: "This funding is a lifeline of support to small businesses and charities who otherwise may not be able to train and upskill their employees. Being able to transfer it to those who need is fantastic.

"We're encouraging more small businesses and charities within the Liverpool City Region to apply and take advantage of this scheme."

This year, LFC is working closely with mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region employer brokerage team to widen the net across the region and pledge its support to transfer this untapped resource.

LFC will be donating more than £140k from its levy pot to this year's recipients, which so far include Positive Futures, Nugent Care and Rotunda.

Maxine Ennis, chief executive officer at Rotunda Ltd, said: "LFC has provided an amazing opportunity for our staff to develop new skills, which will support them in their current roles and help us as a charity to grow and improve our services as a result.

"It is true to say that without this partnership support from LFC we would not be able to provide this for our team. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, specifically the Be More team, were instrumental in making this happen, their support was excellent."

Jenny McDonnell-Shaw, learning and development business partner at Nugent Care, added: "We send our heartfelt thanks to Liverpool Football Club in providing us with this opportunity and to the Combined Authority for your assistance and support throughout the journey. This will ensure that the services we provide continue and improve in their support throughout the area."

The Apprenticeship Levy is paid by employers who have a salary bill of more than £3m 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.

At a recent business networking lunch held at Anfield, Parish joined the mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Rotheram, to talk about supporting the pledge to use this funding towards new apprenticeships in the city region.

Rotheram said: "Having trained as an apprentice myself, I know the life-changing impact that good-quality careers advice and training can have on a young person's future.

"This is funding that could help us to change countless young lives across our region, but we need employers to work with us to ensure that this funding doesn't just sit gathering dust in a bank account in Whitehall – or reallocated into the government's central pot.

"By joining our Apprenticeship Levy pledge, local businesses will not only be helping to build a more robust and skilled workforce but also giving the next generation access to quality training programmes and giving them the opportunity to succeed."

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