Acorns children’s hospice secures £45,000 WMCA funds boost to employee training

Acorns Children’s Hospice has secured a £45,000 boost towards employee training thanks to a region-wide apprenticeship fund.  
 
Three health care assistants based at the charity’s hospices in Birmingham and Worcester have been given access to specialist on-the-job support and training thanks to the fund, an initiative from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).  
 
The WMCA Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund - set up to support organisations in upskilling their employees – has given the health care assistants the opportunity to progress to nurse associate level, whilst continuing their day-to-day roles providing care to local life limited children at the hospice.  

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the WMCA, said: “This £45,000 boost - made possible thanks to the WMCA Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund - highlights our commitment to upskilling and supporting healthcare professionals. 

“This initiative empowers participants to progress to nurse level in professional terms while delivering essential care to local life-limited children. 

“By nurturing talent in this way, we’re ensuring fantastic care is provided to the children and families who rely on Acorns.” 

The Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund was created by the WMCA to cover training costs for more apprentices in the region, through large employers donating a portion of their unspent apprenticeship levy to smaller companies. 
 
The Fund keeps levy money within the West Midlands region by enabling the WMCA to partner large organisations with local smaller companies.

This means the large employers donate a portion of their unspent apprenticeship levy funds to the smaller businesses, covering 100% of their apprenticeship training and assessment costs. 
 
So far, more than £46 million has been contributed as a result of large organisations joining the WMCA partnership, boosting skills and productivity by supporting more young people and adults of all ages into work. 
 
The scheme created approximately 3,500 new apprenticeships at 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses across the region. 

Kerrie Sprason, head of acquisition and development at Acorns, said: “We’re thrilled that members of our team have been given the opportunity to progress through this fantastic scheme from WMCA. We’re so proud of everything the apprentices have achieved so far.   

“Acorns has a well-established learning and development programme and we’re delighted to be able to complement that through the Apprenticeship Levy Fund It helps us nurture the talent within our workforce whilst giving people the opportunity to continue in their existing roles.  
 
“By supporting our people in-house and through opportunities like the Apprenticeship Levy Fund, it ensures we continue to provide the highest quality care to the hundreds of local children and families that rely on Acorns.”  

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for children and young people with life limiting and life-threatening conditions and support for their families.  

In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 700 children and almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.