Asda has donated £300,000 to local apprenticeships across Manchester in a bid to support small businesses.
The Big 4 grocer will help fund around 60 apprenticeships in the area, working in partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which is helping distribute an initial £300,000 to local businesses.
Although the apprenticeship Levy is paid by the large business and as part of that proposal, Asda has opted to transfer a portion of its annual funds to pay for apprentices to train in small businesses within local communities.
This opportunity allows young people to develop new skills and small businesses the support to develop young talent that they may otherwise not be able to afford.
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“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,” Asda chief people officer Hayley Tatum said.
“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.
“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.”
Asda currently has over 1000 of its own colleagues on an apprenticeship across every area of its business.
