New for 2026 — School Improvement Programme: a levy-funded Level 6 route for improvement leaders. Find out more
NCE works alongside central trust teams to convert the apprenticeship levy into shared, trust-wide capability across every phase and provision type, one partner, one dashboard, one levy strategy, whether you operate three schools or thirty.
At a glance
40+
Multi-Academy Trust partners across England
£12m+
Trust levy mobilised into delivery in 2024/25
220+
Cross-school cohort learners currently 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.
Most trusts under-spend their combined levy because activity is siloed by school. A trust-wide plan releases funding that would otherwise expire back to the Treasury after 24 months, or 12 months if added after 31st July 2026.
Central teams must offer shared provision without ignoring the phase, community and improvement journey of each school. Off-the-shelf simply does not land.
HR, finance and CPD leads are already stretched. A partner that owns the DAS admin, funding claims and evidence matters more than any brochure.
Trustees, members and finance committees expect year-on-year evidence that levy investment moves retention, outcomes and equalities data across the estate.
How we work with you
Step 01
A structured workforce conversation with your executive team, people strategy, priorities, levy forecast and constraints.
Step 02
We map standards to your roles across every academy, agree the cohort model and set the delivery calendar around your trust rhythm.
Step 03
Blended, in-role learning with subject mentors, dedicated tutors and evidence built through real practice, not busywork.
Step 04
Quarterly impact reviews against the outcomes you agreed at Discovery, board-ready reporting on levy, learners and progression.
What we bring
One consolidated view of levy spend, forecast and transfer opportunities across every academy so no funding is left unclaimed.
Blend learners from multiple academies into shared cohorts to build common practice, reduce cost per head and grow a trust identity.
A senior NCE lead works alongside your HR, finance and school-improvement 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 trustees and members.
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 multi-academy trusts
Level 6 Apprenticeship
Level 5 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 5 Apprenticeship
“As a large MAT, we feel that colleagues joining the trust at an early stage of their career should have no reason to have to go anywhere else if we're providing them with opportunities to learn and to further develop their career, and the apprenticeships are a really key part of that. ”
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.
