Airways to fairways - golfer who lost his business during Covid lands dream job as greens keeper thanks to Airbus

A keen golfer who lost his business during the Pandemic has launched a new career as an apprentice greens keeper thanks to funding secured by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Pete Elliot swapped his seasonal gardening job at:- Bowring Park and Golf Course for a new career after Airbus gifted unused funding through the apprenticeship levy transfer scheme.

The 41 year old, who worked in finance until the Pandemic, is now caring for the 132 acres of parkland near Roby and hopes 1 day to take over from the course's 2 long term greens keepers.

Marion Atkinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Employment, Education and Skills for 2023/24, said:- "It is really important that we make the best use of any unspent levy and to keep that money within the City Region otherwise it is taken by the Treasury. We are looking to work with any levy payers who can transfer out their unused levy to City Region employers and were able to partner Bowring Park and Golf Course with Airbus. Just recently we have managed to secure around £1.3m from a number of different levy payers so we are now looking for employers to receive that money. Anyone who is interested, please get in touch with the team."

Pete said:- "I am from a science and engineering background and had my own business but then Covid happened, unfortunately. I had played golf here a lot and always thought it would be a great place to work so when I saw the job advertised, I applied for it and got it. I'm not your typical apprentice age and I probably thought like everybody else that it's for School leavers and people of that age, so to find out I was eligible and it was something that I could take up was brilliant. I feel I've learned a lot already, the science behind what we do and the art of it as well, so I am really excited for the future."

Large employers are required by law to pay 0.5% of their wage bill towards an Apprenticeship Levy; which is collected by the Government to fund apprenticeships. Levy payers can spend their own allocation on in-house apprentices or gift up to 50% of the money to other organisations.

Last year, the Mayor called on large employers to pledge to gift their unused levy to smaller local firms, allowing hundreds of new City Region apprenticeships to be created.

Bowring Park and Golf Course, the 1st municipal course in England and now bisected by the M62 motorway, is owned by Knowsley Council and managed by 1day.

Oneday was able to fund training for an apprentice thanks to a transfer from Airbus, 1 of the many large organisations who have come forward to support the scheme.

Helen Paton, Partnerships and Funding Manager at 1day, said:- "We're really excited to have this opportunity to take on a new apprentice, it's really important in terms of our succession planning. We really wanted Pete to be able to upskill and have fresh opportunities in his career. The levy opportunity was something we only recently became aware of thanks to the Combined Authority and when we realised we could actually upskill an existing member of staff and have that fully funded, it was a real eye opener. We didn't have the resources to do that so it has been a huge advantage."

Kate Holthofer, Airbus Head of HR, Broughton Site, said:- "Airbus is a huge supporter of apprenticeships because we understand the vital part they play in the career development of thousands of individuals. This success story showcases the impact large businesses like Airbus can have by partnering with small businesses and communities to redistribute any unspent levy in the areas where we are based to create employment opportunities."

Latest figures show the Combined Authority has so far helped to transfer almost £4.5m of unspent levy funding to pay for more than 900 new apprentices generating a return on investment of more than £120m for the City Region.

Around £2.2bn of apprenticeship funding has been handed back to the Treasury by the DfE in the 6 years since the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced. The underspend in the Liverpool City Region is estimated to be in the tens of millions.

If you are interested in finding out more about how you can gift your Apprenticeship Levy funds or are looking to access a Levy transfer then please contact the Employer Brokerage Service at:- SkillsBrokers@LiverpoolCityRegion-CA.Gov.UK or register your details online at:- LCRBeMore.Co.UK.

Not long to go until Schools launch their month of climate actions

IT'S just days to go until UK Schools launch a month of:- fun, inclusive, inspiring climate actions!

Hundreds of Schools around the UK have signed up to the most exciting collaborative and fun climate event for Schools to take place this year; The Climate Action Countdown. 4 weeks of climate action activities and events will take place from:- 7 June to 5 July 2024; helping to inspire and engage students with fun activities related to reducing their own and their Schools' carbon footprints and protecting nature. 

30 climate charities are coming together; as part of the Let's Go Zero campaign, which supports Schools to be zero carbon by 2030; to create a month of climate action events.

From holding uniform swap shops, spotlighting green careers, vertical gardening, building bug houses, active travel adventures, petitioning and sustainability bingo there is something for everyone and every School to get involved with.
,
Alex Green Head of Let's Go Zero says:- "This is going to be an amazing month of climate action which will inspire and involve Schools around the country. All the activities are fun and it's a really eclectic pick-and-mix range of things to do; from singing to writing manifestos. You can take part as a whole School, or do the activities as a class, eco club, or individual student. catering teams, caretakers and other staff can also help their School get involved. And we'd love home Schoolers to join us too. By doing these fun and engaging activities, Schools can take the 1st steps on their journey to being zero carbon. We know that the Countdown will inspire even more Schools to be part of the growing Let's Go Zero campaign, working to help all UK Schools be zero carbon by 2030."

"Group activities like this are also important for mental health and reducing climate anxiety among children and young people" explained Alex Green.

Alex Green added:- "According to a survey by mental health charity Place2Be, 43% of children (8 to 16) have worried about climate change / the environment in the last 3 months. We know that positive action is what helps children stop worrying and engage with what can be very overwhelming information about climate. So this month will provide a whole range of ideas about how to act positively, improve Schools, protect the environment, and get students outside enjoying nature."

There will be a special:- 'Eco-anxiety' guidance to teachers on how to talk about climate change with students to make them feel more confident about their future while addressing the facts.

To launch the Climate Action Countdown month Schools can use an assembly plan to introduce the month to their students.

Lee Hughes, Chief Operating Officer from Peterborough Diocese Education Trust, said:- "The Climate Action Countdown is an outstanding opportunity for our School communities to come together and show leadership in the fight to reduce carbon emissions and act positively on the Government's climate change strategy for education. As a Multi Academy Trust of 33 Church of England primary Schools, we aspire to act now, engaging our staff, children and communities to make sustainable changes. No action is too small, and we want to encourage our Schools to embrace the climate challenge and show that positive steps can be taken, even with really old estates!"

Sam Luker, Chief Operating Officer, Trinitas Academy Trust, said:- "We have 7 Schools in South London and jumped at the chance of joining Let's Go Zero's Climate Action Countdown in June with engaging activities for the pupils, awareness assemblies and the creation of their own manifestos. And behind the scenes the Let's Go Zero Climate Action Advisers have supported Trust leaders to draft our climate action plan and conduct site audits. This free support has been invaluable to the Trust and I don't know how we would have got to this point without their help."

Schools and communities will be able to access a range of free Climate Action Countdown resources; including:- activity packs, assemblies, music videos, posters, quizzes, worksheets and a calendar of daily inspiration. Suggested activities to choose from including:- learning the SOS For the Earth song, enjoying a plant based picnic on National Picnic Day, setting up a Pop-Up Clothes Swap Shop, or holding a talking session on eco-anxiety.

Let's Go Zero will also provide a step by step activity guide to explain each day's challenge and regular:- 'how to' emails to make the month's activities as easy for busy teachers and community leaders as possible. There is also a chance for participating groups to win some fantastic sustainability prizes along the way.

Charlotte Milner, Schools Climate Action Manager for Brent Council, said:- "Schools in the Kingsbury and Kenton areas are teaming up for the Kingsbury and Kenton Climate Action Month. The Schools will be taking part in several of the Climate Action Countdown initiatives, including:- Sing to Save the Earth, the Big Weekend Switch Off and What a Waste. Pupils will be invited to take part in a competition with Brent by sending photos of themselves and their households engaging in sustainable behaviours such as recycling and planting! We can't wait to see how these activities support young people in making an impact on the local community!"

More than 3000 Schools are signed up to Let's Go Zero and are supported by coalition members which include:- WWF, Surfers Against Sewage, Eco-Schools, Global Action Plan, Sustrans, The Tree Council and WRAP, all of which have created activity days during the month and providing resources for Schools. Climate Action Experts are also available to come to Schools and deliver assemblies.

Sign up to the Climate Action Countdown online at:- LetsGoZero.Org then share your climate activities by tagging:- @letsgo_zero on social media and using the hashtag:- #ClimateActionCountdown.