The Alan, a boutique hotel in the heart of Manchester and part of RBH Hospitality Management, has achieved a remarkable milestone in its commitment to nurturing talent and providing career opportunities through apprenticeships. This success story highlights how the apprenticeship levy transfer initiative has transformed the hotel’s ability to support budding professionals in the hospitality industry.
As a non-levy paying employer, The Alan faced challenges in funding apprenticeships. Without levy funds, the hotel would need to contribute 5% towards apprenticeship course costs, which limited the number of opportunities it could offer. However, under the guidance of Paul Walsh, General Manager of The Alan and a passionate advocate for apprenticeships, the hotel embarked on a journey to maximise its potential to support new and existing team members.
A Collaborative Effort to Drive Change
As part of RBH’s apprenticeship invigoration campaign, Inspiro Learning and The Alan hosted an open day to generate interest in apprenticeship opportunities. The event was a resounding success, attracting significant attention from prospective learners.
During the campaign, Steph Webb, National Accounts Manager at Inspiro Learning, introduced Paul to the apprenticeship levy gifting initiative. This innovative scheme enables large levy-paying employers to donate their unspent apprenticeship funds to smaller organisations, preventing the funds from expiring and returning to HMRC. Steph shared details about the government’s levy gifting portal and the Co-op’s scheme, which acts as an online matching service to connect donating employers with those in need of funding.
Turning Vision into Reality
Paul eagerly explored these opportunities and, with Steph’s assistance, applied through both portals. The Co-op responded promptly, guiding Paul through the process and requesting details of the apprenticeship roles The Alan could offer. Together, Paul and Steph completed the necessary forms and secured funding for five apprenticeships.
These opportunities included two chef apprenticeships (one for a new recruit and one for an existing team member to upskill), one Team Leader apprenticeship, one Hospitality Team Manager apprenticeship and one Hospitality Supervisor apprenticeship. Shortly afterwards, Compass Group generously agreed to gift their unspent levy funds, enabling the transfer to proceed seamlessly between Co-op, RBH Group, and Inspiro Learning.
A Bright Future Ahead
The impact of this initiative is already evident. The Alan has successfully filled one apprenticeship vacancy, with the remaining positions in progress. This achievement underscores the power of collaboration and innovation in overcoming funding barriers to unlock potential and drive career development.
Paul Walsh expressed his gratitude for the initiative, stating, “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to nurture talent and invest in the future of our industry. Thanks to the levy gifting scheme and the support from Inspiro Learning and our partners, we can now offer life-changing opportunities to more individuals than ever before.”
This success story serves as an inspiring example of how businesses can leverage apprenticeship levy transfers to foster growth, support their communities, and build a stronger, more skilled workforce.
Get in touch to find out how we can support you with levy transfer funding.
