Levy Roadshow events launched to unlock apprenticeship opportunities

Suffolk businesses are being urged to maximise their apprenticeship levy funds, with education providers, councils and business organisations in Suffolk teaming up to support apprentice recruitment in the county.

The University of Suffolk, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Suffolk County Council, East Suffolk Council, and Eastern Education Group are launching a series of Levy Roadshow events to help local employers access funding, develop staff, and boost growth.

The apprenticeship levy is paid by organisations with an annual wage bill of £3 million or more, with the amount paid set at a rate of 0.5% of that organisation’s payroll.

The levy funds apprenticeship training in the UK, and was introduced to help businesses take on more apprentices and bolster skills training.

Unused funds are returned to central government, however the apprenticeship levy transfer allows larger businesses to transfer up to 50% of their unspent funds to other businesses to support their apprenticeship training.

The Roadshows aim to:

• Prevent millions of pounds of unspent apprenticeship levy being returned to the government
• Support local employers, including both levy-paying and non-levy-paying organisations, through levy transfers
• Drive economic growth and reduce unemployment across Suffolk.

The first Roadshow takes place at the University of Suffolk’s Waterfront Building in Ipswich on Thursday 4 December, running from 10.00am-12.00pm.

The Ipswich event will be followed by Bury St Edmunds on Thursday 22 January from 10.00am to 12.00pm at Eastern Education Group’s University and Professional Development Centre in Western Way.

The Roadshow then moves on to the East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council offices in Lowestoft from 10.00am to 12.00pm on Friday 13 February, during National Apprenticeship Week 2026.

Practical Guidance for Employers

At the Ipswich event, Suffolk County Council will deliver a step-by-step presentation showing employers how to transfer and request apprenticeship levy funds. Attendees will gain practical insights to maximise levy contributions, access a levy transfer fund, and develop apprenticeship programmes tailored to their workforce.

Why Employers Are Turning to Apprentices

Apprenticeships allow organisations to:

• Maximise levy funds before they expire
• Reduce training costs through funding or transfers
• Develop staff with business-aligned skills
• Drive deep employee loyalty
• Build a sustainable talent pipeline

Who Should Attend

The events are targeted to business owners, HR teams, learning and development leads, finance managers and anyone involved in workforce planning – regardless of whether their organisation pays for the levy.

To find out more and register your interest for the roadshows head to the following Eventbrite pages:

Ipswich - Thursday 4 December
Bury St Edmunds - Thursday 22 January
Lowestoft - Friday 13 February

To find out more about apprenticeship opportunities at the University of Suffolk, visit the webpage here.