Through National Apprenticeship Week 2025 (10th - 16th February) Hertfordshire Futures will be working with partners to highlight and elevate the work of the Hertfordshire Apprenticeship Alliance (HAA).
The Hertfordshire Apprenticeship Alliance initiative aims to maximise apprenticeship levy opportunities, support local talent, and address skills shortages within the county. Created in 2017, during the introduction of the apprenticeship levy reforms, the Alliance is a partnership between our public sector levy payers which includes local authorities, NHS, police, fire, and education sector. The collaboration aims to maximise the benefits of the levy within Hertfordshire.
Philosophy and Vision
We believe that every apprenticeship matters. Our philosophy is to seize the opportunity to address skills shortages and foster a county of productivity for both apprentices and employers. Our vision is to establish an apprenticeship offer recognised as an equal alternative to academic routes, providing rewarding career pathways and supporting employers in accessing local talent, raising skills, and boosting productivity. The Alliance’s ambition is also to support non-levy payers, particularly small and micro businesses, to be confident and informed on apprenticeships - sharing tools, advice, and guidance to enable them to embrace apprenticeships and offer high-quality learning experiences for their staff.
Strategy and Goals
Our strategy involves launching a comprehensive digital marketing campaign to introduce HAA members, showcase apprenticeship successes, and reaffirm our ambitions. The primary goal is to relaunch the HAA to maximise apprenticeship levy opportunities and support local talent. Secondary goals include aligning HAA ambitions with our other complimenting skills programmes to address skills shortages, supporting county strategies to improve career opportunities for those in need, influencing apprenticeship and education offerings in partnership with our local FE and HE institutions, prioritising levy spending within Hertfordshire, and maximising levy benefits for public sector bodies.
Campaign Highlights
The re-launch campaign will highlight the benefits of apprenticeships for Hertfordshire employers and young people, showcase success stories and testimonials from current apprentices and employers, and emphasise the economic and social benefits of supporting local talent.
Caroline Cartwright, Head of Skills for Hertfordshire Futures said “With the advent of Skills England and the forthcoming introduction of the Growth and Skills Levy, this is an opportune time to reinvigorate our Alliance’s ambitions. We are inviting employers to unlock the potential of local talent with our apprenticeship programmes which support workforce enhancement, raise skill levels, and boost productivity. Young people are encouraged to kickstart their careers with apprenticeships, gaining valuable skills and discovering exciting opportunities. Adults are also invited to embrace apprenticeships to retrain or progress within the workplace, contributing to our community’s growth.”
We are inviting employers to unlock the potential of local talent with our apprenticeship programmes which support workforce enhancement, raise skill levels, and boost productivity.