£1.8 million invested in apprenticeships for Yorkshire businesses with The Apprenticeship Hub
Since October 2021, The Apprenticeship Hub has provided free support to employers across York, North Yorkshire and East Riding to build their businesses through the uptake of apprenticeships, with £1.8 million being invested in the service.
When The Apprenticeship Hub first began it aimed to support at least 577 individuals across 57 businesses by June 2023. As of August 2022, it has already worked with over 75 businesses and now foresees supporting over 150 Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the lifetime of the service.
The Apprenticeship Hub’s expert Apprenticeships Advisers offer free and impartial support. They can guide employers through processes such as recruiting new apprentices, upskilling current employees through apprenticeship qualifications, choosing an apprenticeship standard and provider, and accessing grants and funding.
In addition to practical support with the recruitment of apprentices, The Apprenticeship Hub also provides employers with access to free training and qualifications to prepare their business to support the apprentices, in areas such as team leading, mentoring, health and safety, and recruitment.
Wraparound support is also provided to the apprentices themselves, allowing them to build additional skills during their training, including employability, functional and digital skills, and effective communication.
The hub aims to deliver at least 200 Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications to individuals across the region.
The Apprenticeship Hub is managed by Calderdale College, in partnership with North Yorkshire Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Anna Bennett, Workforce Skills Development Manager for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, says, “Hiring apprentices and offering apprenticeship qualifications to existing staff are fantastic ways for employers to equip their workforce with the right toolkit of skills to meet both their needs. We are proud to be a Delivery Partner for The Apprenticeship Hub, supporting the uptake of apprenticeships across our region.”
Find out more about The Apprenticeship Hub and book a free initial consultation today. The Apprenticeship Hub is part-funded by the European Social Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
If you’d like to find out more about more skills, training and workforce development opportunities available to you, visit the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub Skills Hub for resources, links and contacts.
If you’d like to learn more about the business support in your area, please get in touch with the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub online or by calling Faye on our helpdesk for free on 0800 246 5045.
260,000 workers to get a pay rise across Yorkshire as new wage rates take effect
60,000 hard-working people across Yorkshire and the Humber will see their pay increase from today [1 April 2026], as the Government raises the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) rates.
Made Smarter Backs Local Manufacturers
Manufacturing businesses across York and North Yorkshire are being encouraged to embrace digital innovation through the Made Smarter programme, a government-funded initiative that helps companies adopt new technologies and strengthen their operations.
The Cyber Security Membership for SMEs in the North East
The North East Cyber Resilience Centre (“NECRC”) helps small and medium-sized businesses, charities, and public sector organisations improve their cyber security.
York coworking space launches International Women’s Day competition giving female entrepreneur £1,500 workspace boost!
The winner will receive a dedicated desk for six months in Blake House’s tranquil 13-desk coworking studio - an intentionally small workspace designed to create a genuine business community, offering a calm and focused alternative to the large, impersonal workspaces that many entrepreneurs reportedly experience.
Farm Business Support Programme
This programme is a planned schedule of practical workshops designed to help farm businesses understand where they are now, where they want to be next, and how to make confident decisions in a fast-changing industry. The focus is simple: real world, farm focused business skills that can be applied straight back at home.
New business fund tackles biggest barrier to growth
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has invited businesses to apply for a new programme to help overcome one of the biggest barriers to growth. Get Funded, part of the Mayor’s Business Innovation Fund and backed by £200,000 in funding, launched today and will run for the next two years until December 2027.
Kick Off In Business: Fully Funded Opportunity
Online business start-up & self-employment courses funded by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Adult Skills Fund, providing straightforward, practical information and guidance for anyone who is in the process of setting up a business or simply exploring the idea.
Mentoring Programme Set to Strengthen Local Business
The Mentoring for Growth Programme is designed to support small businesses across York and North Yorkshire that are ready to grow, scale, and move confidently into their next stage. The pilot will match local business owners and leaders with mentors from outside their industry, helping them to develop the core, non-technical skills that underpin sustainable business growth.
Strive Live Start-Up Incubator: Expression of Interest
Interested in joining a future cohort of Stive Live Start-Up Incubator? Find out more about the programme below, and register your interest to secure the first places when dates are confirmed.
Act now. 864,000 sole traders and landlords face new tax rules in two months
From 6 April 2026, those eligible will need to use recognised software to keep digital records and send HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) light-touch quarterly updates of their income and expenses. These are not extra tax returns.
Innovation Supper - Apply to Pitch
York Business School, Patch York and the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub are delighted to bring you a special edition of Innovation Supper. As part of this year's International Women's Day, we are inviting female entrepreneurs to apply to pitch their business.
Expression of Interest: Mentoring for Growth Programme
We’re launching a new mentoring programme designed to support small businesses across York and North Yorkshire who are ready to grow, scale and move confidently into their next stage. This programme connects local business leaders with experienced mentors from different sectors, creating space for honest conversations, fresh thinking and practical support.