Co-op commits to £70m to create 7,000 apprenticeships by 2030 through its Levy Share – tackling skills shortages and boosting social mobility

21 November 2025

  • Co-op’s Levy Share has already unlocked £40m for training; new £70m commitment comes as apprenticeship starts have fallen 31% since 2017 and apprenticeships now contribute £25bn to England’s economy
  • Delivers for underrepresented groups: 31% non-white British, 67% female, 16% declaring a disability
  • Supports the Government’s ambition for more young people to access “gold standard” apprenticeships
  • Co-op calls on Skills England to start collecting Socio-Economic Background (SEB) data for apprenticeships, to see who is, and isn’t, getting access to these opportunities

Co-op today (21st November 2025) has announced a £70 million commitment through its Levy Share service to create 7,000 matched apprenticeships by 2030, to boost skills and social mobility nationwide.

This comes as apprenticeship starts have dropped 31% since the government introduced the apprentice levy in 2017, leaving nearly one million young people out of education, work, or training. Apprenticeships now add £25 billion to England’s economy**, making Co-op’s commitment more vital than ever.

Co-op Levy Share has already raised £40 million and is making a real difference for underrepresented groups, with 31% of apprentices identifying as non-white British, 67% as female, and 16% declaring a disability****. The initiative is designed to break down barriers to work and progression, and supports the Government’s recent call for more young people to access “gold standard” apprenticeships. While the definition of “gold standard” is still being clarified, Co-op Levy Share has the potential to support this ambition by unlocking opportunities for high-quality apprenticeships - including Level 4 and above - across the UK.

Launched in 2021, Co-op Levy Share enables levy paying employers to transfer unused apprenticeship levy funds to businesses, charities, and community organisations - breaking down barriers to work and progression for those who need it most. In just four years, the scheme has matched over 3,800 apprenticeships, with two-thirds in the most deprived communities and a third in the care sector. It’s helping tackle skills shortages in areas like rail engineering, early years education through its partnership with The Early Years’ Foundation, and digital, while opening doors for underrepresented groups.

To truly understand and address barriers to opportunity, Co-op is calling on Skills England to start collecting Socio-Economic Background (SEB) data for apprenticeships. This would allow policymakers, employers, and educators to see who is, and isn’t getting access to apprenticeships, and to target support where it’s needed most. Without this data, it’s impossible to know whether the system is genuinely driving social mobility or leaving some groups behind.

Claire Costello, Chief People and Inclusion Officer at Co-op, commented:

“We launched Co-op Levy Share to unlock unused levy funds and turn waste into opportunity. Four years on, alongside our contributing partners, we’ve already channelled £40 million into thousands of lifechanging apprenticeships, and today we’re going further, committing £70 million to create 7,000 apprenticeships by 2030.

“But to truly drive social mobility, we need to measure who benefits. That’s why we’re calling on Skills England to start collecting SocioEconomic Background (SEB) data for apprenticeships. Without it, the system risks leaving some groups behind. Shining a light on access means we can target support where it’s needed most and build a fairer future for all.”

Sarah Atkinson, Chief Executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, said:

“Young people from low-income backgrounds – like the ones our charity supports – are crying out for more apprenticeship opportunities. And no wonder: the chance to earn while you learn can be life-changing for people who otherwise can’t afford to pay for training or university.

“But there are fewer apprenticeships around, especially for young people, and the opportunities that exist are dominated by those from more privileged backgrounds. We need more apprenticeships, like the ones created by the Co-op Levy Share, to help our young people flourish and fill our skills gaps. And we need to make sure that the people who need apprenticeships most can access them. Until Skills England collects socio-economic data on apprenticeships, we’re in the dark about whether they’re driving social mobility or entrenching inequality.”

Case Study: William Hare Group and Wincanton: William Hare Group, the UK’s leading independent steel fabrication company, faced a challenge when its own levy was insufficient to fully fund its ambitious apprenticeship programme. Through Co-op Levy Share, William Hare was able to recruit 42 apprentices in 2023/24 and 2024/25, supporting advanced skills development in engineering and IT for major projects like the Battersea Power Station redevelopment. "Co-op Levy Share was a lifeline, allowing us to maintain steady recruitment levels and connect with other businesses for support. Without the service, we would not have been able to recruit our recent cohorts of apprentices," said Ema Marinho, Early Careers Lead at William Hare.

Case Study: North Tyneside VODA (Charity Sector): VODA, a charity supporting the voluntary sector in North Tyneside, secured apprenticeships for junior managers through Co-op Levy Share, enabling upskilling and advancement. "We’ve been able to secure apprenticeships for our junior managers, opening up opportunities for advancement and benefiting the wider voluntary sector," said Deputy CEO Keith Hardy.

The Apprenticeship Levy requires large employers to contribute to a fund supporting apprenticeship training. Unspent funds expire after 24 months and are returned to HM Treasury. Co-op Levy Share enables employers to transfer up to 50% of their annual levy to other organisations, covering training and assessment costs for apprenticeships and supporting growth across sectors.

Co-op is calling on more businesses to join the Levy Share initiative, helping to create a stronger, fairer economy by supporting apprenticeships in sectors and communities that need them most.

Major businesses such as Amazon, JD Sports, Mitie, GXO, Nat West, Direct Line, PPF, HH Global, and The Growth Company have all pledged significant support, helping to fund apprenticeships in sectors from early childhood to engineering and digital.

For more information, visit cooplevyshare.co.uk.

ENDS

Notes to Editor

This commitment is based on the current apprenticeship funding framework, including the 5% employer contribution for non-levy payers. Co-op will continue to work with government and partners to ensure the system remains accessible and sustainable for businesses and learners.

*Apprenticeship starts have fallen by 31% since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017: Department for Education (DfE), Apprenticeships and Traineeships data – historical series available via Explore Education Statistics - https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships/2024-25

** Nearly one million young people out of education, work, or training: Office for National Statistics (ONS), NEET statistics - https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/youngpeoplenotineducationemploymentortrainingneet/february2025

*** Apprenticeships are expected to contribute £25 billion to England’s economy over the lifetime of current apprentices: Department for Education analysis, 14 February 2025.”

**** Data comes from the diversity stencil that is sent out to all receiving organisations and is collated by Co-op and The Growth Company upon return.