Read: Chancellor meets with Leonardo UK’s Clive Higgins, Justine Greening and Anne Milton to discuss reform to the Apprenticeship Levy

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, has today met with Clive Higgins of Leonardo UK - a leading Purpose Coalition Member - alongside former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening, and former Skills Minister Rt Hon Anne Milton to discuss and explore reform to the apprenticeship levy.

The meeting comes on the back of a letter to the Chancellor from Justine and Anne, alongside a range of Purpose Coalition Members in March urging the Chancellor to consider potential options to improve the apprenticeship levy. 

Proposals discussed with the Chancellor include increasing the amount of their levy employers could transfer to their supply chain and SMEs, alongside slicing existing Apprenticeship standards into more bite sized modules.

The Chancellor has now asked Justine and Anne to work with Purpose Coalition Members on a series of firm recommendations of how the levy can be adapted to boost levelling up and grow the economy. 

Clive Higgins, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Leonardo UK said: 

“It was a pleasure to meet with the Chancellor and build on the foundations for progress on this important issue. Reform of the apprenticeship levy will boost economic growth by creating well-paid, productive jobs across the country. 

As a former apprentice, I have first-hand experience of the opportunities at the heart of apprenticeships schemes. For business, apprentices offer an essential supply chain of diverse talent. For our economy as a whole, apprenticeships have the further potential to be an engine for regional social mobility. I look forward to continue working with the Government and the Purpose Coalition to deliver on this potential."

Rt Hon Justine Greening, Chair of the Purpose Coalition said:

“Treasury holds the key to so many investment decisions across government, so having a Chancellor who understands the economic importance of both human capital and equality of opportunity is crucial. 

It was great to meet with the Chancellor alongside Anne, and one of our leading Purpose Coalition employers in Leonardo,  to discuss our plans to reform the apprenticeship levy into one that truly spreads opportunity to the most disadvantaged communities.”

Rt Hon Anne Milton, former Skills Minister said:

“My time as Skills Minister showed me the power that the apprenticeship levy can have, bolstering apprenticeship opportunities in organisations that may have not previously considered it - but there is more we can do to make the levy more flexible, and contribute towards the government’s plan to level up across the UK. 

It was great to meet with the Chancellor to set out the case, and look forward to continuing to work with leading Purpose Coalition employers to make the case for how a levelled up levy can spread opportunities across the UK.”