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NCE works with local authority workforce and commissioning teams to convert the apprenticeship levy into coordinated capability across Children's Services, Education, SEND, Adult Learning, Skills, Youth and Family Services, one partner, one dashboard, one levy strategy.
At a glance
146
Local authority partners across England
£15m+
Council levy mobilised into delivery in 2024/25
300+
Cross-directorate cohort learners on-programme
97%
Learner retention to completion
The workforce reality
Every partnership starts with a clear-eyed conversation about what is actually broken, not a generic apprenticeship pitch.
Children's, Adults, Education and Corporate teams each hold pieces of the levy strategy. A coordinated plan releases funding that would otherwise expire back to the Treasury after 24 months, or 12 months if added after 31st July 2026.
Social work, SEND casework, youth services and family support all face rising demand. Structured apprenticeship pathways stabilise retention and build a home-grown pipeline into hard-to-fill roles.
Councils need a partner that understands frameworks, DPS and transparency rules wrapped in local context, not a training vendor that treats you like a corporate employer.
Cabinet members, scrutiny committees and combined authorities expect year-on-year evidence that levy spend moves outcomes across the corporate plan, not just training hours logged.
How we work with you
Step 01
A structured conversation with your workforce lead and directorate sponsors across Children's, Adults, Education, Skills and Corporate.
Step 02
We map standards to roles across every directorate, agree the cohort model and set the calendar around your council rhythm and reporting cycle.
Step 03
Blended, in-role learning with sector mentors and dedicated tutors, evidence built through real casework, community delivery and service improvement.
Step 04
Quarterly impact reviews against the outcomes agreed at Discovery, member-ready reporting on levy, learners and progression across every directorate.
What we bring
One consolidated view of levy spend, forecast and transfer opportunities across Children's, Adults, Education, Skills and Corporate so no funding is left unclaimed.
Blend learners from Children's Services, Youth, SEND, Adult Learning and Family Services into shared cohorts to build a common workforce identity across the council.
A senior NCE lead who works alongside your workforce, HR and commissioning teams throughout the year. No rotating account managers.
A single dashboard covering levy status, learner progress, off-the-job compliance and impact metrics, ready for cabinet, scrutiny and combined authority reporting.
The 2024/25 funding reforms have changed what's possible - and what's expected from your workforce. Budgets are tighter. Statutory demands haven't gone away. This is the moment to plan differently.
Outcomes you can plan around
Every partnership is underpinned by an outcomes framework agreed at the start, so you can report impact back to boards, members and elected officials with confidence.
Most requested by local authorities
Level 6 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 5 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 5 Apprenticeship
“Having worked with NCE for over five years and supported more than 150 apprentices across local authorities and schools, I have consistently valued their responsive, flexible and considerate approach. They take time to understand our needs and adapt their delivery wherever possible. Their commitment to quality and partnership makes them a highly trusted training provider and my first choice for leadership and management apprenticeships.”
Sector FAQs
Share your context, team, levy position, priorities, and we will come back with a tailored partnership proposal within five working days.
We're happy to help. Get in touch with our team. Real people, real answers, no pressure.
