Aldi gifting £300,000 to fund 50 apprenticeships in childcare

Aldi has gifted £300,000 of its Apprenticeship Levy to a childcare provider with over 100 UK nurseries.

The gift is enabling Partou to recruit 50 additional childcare apprentices.

The Apprenticeship Levy requires UK employers with an annual wage bill of more than £3m to set aside 0.5% of the cost to fund apprenticeships. They can spend it within their own organisation or gift up to 50% to the apprenticeship scheme of another.

Aldi launched an Apprenticeship Levy gifting initiative in 2021 and is due to have provided £5.5m for other organisations by the end of 2027. The discounter announced last year that £2m would go toward apprentices in settings such as nurseries, care homes, healthcare and trades.

Aldi is also creating 500 apprenticeship roles in its own stores and warehouses this year.

“Our levy gifting initiative is designed to support our local communities, increase social mobility, and promote diversity and inclusion,” said Aldi UK training and development director Lisa Murphy.

“By sharing our apprenticeship levy with organisations such as Partou that align with our values, we can create lasting opportunities and improve people’s lives.”

Partou head of people experience Simon Booth-Liddle said: “We are immensely grateful to Aldi UK for their kindness and generosity which will enable us to deliver 50 new apprenticeships around the country.

“These are key roles in our nurseries. Whether just starting out or ready for the next career step as an early years professional, Partou’s Level 2 and Level 3 Early Years apprenticeships offer hands-on experience, expert guidance and the pathway to make a real difference to young lives every day.

“We are also starting to focus on Level 5 Early Years apprenticeships.”

Leading retailers have complained of the Apprenticeship Levy failing to recognise the practical skills development needed by the industry, making it difficult for businesses to draw on the fund. M&S CEO Stuart Machin said in March: “Foundational, practical skill development goes unrecognised, but we can draw down levy funds as soon as someone goes to a college or university. No wonder many employers treat the levy as a tax.”