‘By making one or more pledges, we can all back the benefits apprenticeships offer to trainees, employers and the economy,’ says Claire Bennison, head of ACCA UK. ‘It’s a chance to showcase the difference apprenticeships can make within organisations, to improve social mobility and create more opportunities for all.

‘Our Pledge for Potential aims to support young people looking to join the profession, as well as those looking to upskill for a new career or change of direction.’

Bennison is urging employers to offer apprenticeships if they don’t already, or take on more apprentices if they do. ‘They could transfer their unused levy fund to a small/medium-sized organisation, in order to ensure great apprenticeship opportunities are available for all in their local community,’ she says.

In addition, by making a pledge, organisations will be able to demonstrate their commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals four and eight: to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’, and to ‘promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full productive employment and decent work for all’.

ACCA is pledging to continue to push government to make the transfer simpler for all businesses and to

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