Co-op is creating more than 600 apprenticeships for the early years industry with The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood.

The initiative spans employers across the public, private, voluntary and community sectors that support the wellbeing of young children.

The convenience chain has set up the Co-op Levy Share scheme, allowing companies to pledge up to 50% of their yearly unspent apprenticeship levy funds and share them in a targeted way to support the provision of apprenticeships in underrepresented groups.

Co-op has vowed to raise £5m during the next five years to support children under five, with a starting pledge of £1m from members of the Business Taskforce.

The retailer, which welcomed the government’s plans for a new growth and skills levy to replace the apprenticeship levy last month, said this would help it fund over 600 apprenticeships designed to train and develop the careers of those working with families and children across the UK early years industries.

Co-op CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq said: “A quarter of our Co-op colleagues have caring responsibilities, which is one of the many reasons why we are absolutely committed to playing our part in the work of The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood.”

“With the government’s pledge to create much needed physical capacity in the early years sector, it is great that through our levy initiative we can help attract more people into the sector, giving them the opportunity to consider an early years career and the correct training.”

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