Employer Skills Support
Our team of impartial Skills Brokers can help you to access funding, local grants and government incentive schemes to help up-skill or re-skill your employees.
We can also support you to recruit staff members, new apprentices as well as identifying apprenticeship routes for existing employees.
If you're interested in finding out more information please submit our skills support form.
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a job with an accompanying learning programme. An apprentice is employed by you, under a contract of employment, enabling them to earn and learn at the same time, gaining hands-on experience in the workplace whilst also gaining valuable work-based skills and qualifications. They also must be provided at least 6 paid hours during the work week dedicated to working towards their apprenticeship qualification.
See our apprenticeships page to find out more about eligibility, assessment and other details.
Internships
Our local universities, University of Leicester and De Montfort University both have Internship talent match schemes that are available for local businesses. The schemes provide businesses with a graduate for the duration to work on a 'project' for that business over the duration. It's a great opportunity to match your business with high quality graduates, who have the knowledge and skills to add value to your business.
De Montfort University:
Graduate Champions:
6 weeks | 111 Hours in total | 18.5 hours per week
Open to a specific cohort of graduates only
Fully funded – no cost to the organisation
Start Date: 18 August 2025
End Date: 26 September 2025
Applications for employer / host proposals open May 2025
ACE Internships:
6 weeks | 111 Hours in total | 18.5 hours per week
Open to any UG students only
Fully funded – no cost to the organisation
Start Date: TBC June 2026
End Date: TBC July 2026
Proposals will open September 2025
University of Leicester:
Micro-internships starting in July 2025 (Current Students) – these are part-time and unpaid for up to 40 hours over 3-4 weeks and are good for short projects or employers who want to try out an internship initially over a short period
Citizens of Change Summer Internship (Current Students) – Salary-funded internships 25 hours a week over 6 weeks starting in June 2025
Graduate Internship Project (Graduates) - Salary-funded internships 25 hours a week over 6 weeks starting in Aug/Sept 2025
Colleges
There are also a range of free* courses that can be used to help upskill members of staff within your workforce via local colleges. They can also deliver personalised courses for your business.
- North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College
- Loughborough College
- Leicester College
*Subject to criteria