£1.8m apprenticeship funding helps Tees Valley firms recruit and train

£1.8m apprenticeship pot is already helping Tees Valley firms take on new talent

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Eleven major employers have pledged around £1.8 million through a Tees Valley scheme that redirects unused apprenticeship levy funding to local businesses. So far, 89 apprentices have been supported and £600,000 remains available.

By The Tees Editorial Desk · 27 August 2026

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Nearly £1.8 million in unused apprenticeship funding has been pledged to help Tees Valley businesses train new and existing staff, with 89 apprentices already supported through the scheme.

The Tees Valley Matching Service takes levy funding that larger employers are not using and matches it with local businesses that can put it towards apprenticeship training and assessment. According to , 11 businesses have pledged money so far, helping 26 firms take on apprentices.

There is still around £600,000 available for businesses in the region. The is now asking more large employers with unused levy funds to become donors, while encouraging smaller firms to explore whether the scheme could help them recruit or develop staff.

Among those using the support is 26-year-old Beth Brockwell, a business co-ordinator at Steel River Quay. Her role includes helping to co-ordinate ship movements and imports on the River Tees, and she is working towards a qualification in leadership and project management.

Major employers including the BBC, Amazon and bp are among organisations that have provided financial support through the scheme. The idea is fairly simple: apprenticeship levy money that might otherwise go unused can instead cover training costs for another employer in the region.

The scheme is not limited to traditional trades. Apprenticeships now cover fields including engineering, manufacturing, construction, digital, creative work, professional services and health, giving employers another route to build skills while people earn and learn at the same time.

For local businesses, the useful bit is practical rather than ceremonial. There is money still available, and the Combined Authority says its team can match employers with funding where the fit.

: This article was reported from information published by Tees Valley Combined Authority on 27 August 2026. Figures and programme details are to the Combined Authority.