The department for education (DfE) has invited bids for a tender worth £2.25 million to encourage contractors to work with SMEs to create successful apprenticeship programmes in specific areas in the north.

The DfE has launched a 2.25 million tender to use intermediaries to target SMEs in the north, specifically in areas identified as key targets for development in the government levelling up the white paper. According to government figures, the rate of under 19s beginning apprenticeships has fallen from 24.8% in 2018/19 to 20.3% in 2020/21. The bids must include ideas and outlines about how to engage SMEs who do not currently have apprenticeship programmes and should ideally be focused on young people leaving full-time education. The deadline for bids is the 29th of June.

Find our more here