Co-op’s Levy Share to support UK’s first prisoner apprenticeship programme for rail skills
The Co-op has collaborated with City & Guilds Foundation to support the UK’s first prisoner apprenticeship programme for rail skills.
The two organisations have teamed up to launch the first rail engineering apprenticeships at the Centre of Excellence skills hub at HMP Highpoint.
Starting from August, the initiative will aim to tackle the UK’s rail engineering skills shortages while reducing reoffending rates. Currently, around 80% of offending is reoffending.
Created in response to Co-op members’ requests at its AGM to focus on reducing re-offending and supporting rehabilitation, the programme will allow prisoners to complete full apprenticeships and their end-point assessments before release.
Subscribe to TRBThis will give them the chance to earn a Level 2 qualification in Rail Engineering Operatives and move straight into employment and directly into track engineering roles on release.
The move has been made possible through the Co-op Levy Share which brings together funds from Co-op and other employers to support apprenticeships for underrepresented groups.
The Co-op said employers can help support rehabilitation by transferring their unspent apprenticeship levy funds. Co-op Levy Share allows like-minded partners to pledge up to 50% of annual unspent apprenticeship levy funds and share them in a targeted way to support the provision of apprenticeships in underrepresented groups.
Claire Costello, chief people and inclusion officer at the Co-op, said: “At Co-op, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to build a brighter future – for themselves and for their communities. Our partnership with City & Guilds Foundation demonstrates the transformative power of targeted training, employment, and genuine opportunity.
“It is great that through our levy initiative we can invest in people and equip them with skills that are in high demand, not just reducing reoffending but also helping to tackle critical skills shortages in the UK rail sector, strengthening the fabric of society.
“We’re inviting other businesses to join us in pledging their unspent levy – helping to create more second chances and build a more inclusive workforce across the UK, whilst delivering lasting benefit to communities nationwide.”
In August 2024, Co-op announced that it was spearheading a scheme to create over 600 apprentices for the early years sector.
