The Bauer Academy, the educational arm of global media owner Bauer Media has announced an innovative partnership with Arqiva to deliver Apprenticeships for small businesses and individuals in the south of England.

Arqiva is a leading UK communications infrastructure and media services provider dedicated to connecting people wherever they are through the delivery of TV, radio, mobile and machine to machine communications.

As a levy-paying employer which has provided apprenticeships for over 10 years, Arqiva already benefits from of a range of Apprenticeship programmes for their own workforce.

In an exciting development as a result of the introduction of new rules that allow employers to transfer up to 10% of their total levy funds outside of their organisation, Arqiva will invest in a pilot scheme to run Apprenticeship Standard programmes for individuals and smaller businesses in the south of England.    

The training programme will be designed and delivered by The Bauer Academy, who are on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers.  The programme is scheduled to launch this autumn, using the Creative Content Producer level 3 Apprenticeship Standard to teach multi-platform media, technical and creative skills.

At launch, Bauer Media’s Wave 105 FM radio station, broadcasing across the South of England, will run an on air campaign to promote the initiative and drive applications.

The initiative has been endorsed by Government stakeholders, including the Rt Hon Anne Milton MP, Minster of State (Skills & Apprenticeships).

She commented, “It’s fantastic to see employers like Bauer Media and Arqiva working together and using the apprenticeship levy to support other business to grow. Together they are creating high-quality apprenticeships in exciting industries, and I am excited to see their programme go from strength to strength. 

“Apprenticeships can change lives and businesses for the better. It’s great news that levy-payers are thinking creatively about how they can help businesses in their supply chain to give their staff the skills they need to get on in life.”

Courtnay McLeod, Director of Bauer Academy added: “Many businesses will not spend their levy pot, and perhaps don’t realise that a portion of it could be used to fund training programmes for other businesses and people in their communities.  This might be a smaller business in their supply chain, or even a charity that they support.  

“We are thrilled to see Arqiva committing to this initiative and are proud to be delivering this first of its kind programme.”

John Druce, Learning and Development Manager, Arqiva, said: “We’re committed to delivering apprenticeships that provide real value, both for us as a business and for the individual.

“The opportunity to provide some of this value to other people outside our company, but within our industry and local community, was too good to miss. We look forward to seeing the new programme get underway.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

About Bauer Media UK:

Bauer Media UK reaches over 25 million UK consumers through a portfolio of world-class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands including heat, KISS, Grazia, Empire, Magic, Absolute Radio and the Hits Radio Network. These brands offer commercial partners access to highly engaged audiences, with creative solutions underpinned by insight and instinct. Bauer Media UK is part of the Bauer Media Group, one of the world’s largest privately owned media businesses with media assets all over the globe.

About Arqiva

Arqiva is a leading UK communications infrastructure and media services provider dedicated to connecting people wherever they are through the delivery of TV, radio, mobile and machine to machine communications.

We are an independent provider of telecom towers, with circa 8,000 active sites across Great Britain, and are also the only supplier of national terrestrial television and radio broadcasting services in the UK. Our advanced networks support the exponential growth of connected devices and the ever-increasing demand for data from smartphones to tablets, connected TVs to smart meters.

Customers include major UK and international broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV, Sky Plc., Turner Broadcasting, the independent radio groups, major telco providers – including the UK’s four mobile network operators – and energy and water companies.

For more information, news and insights from Arqiva, please visit the website at: www.arqiva.com 

For Further information:

Cat Martin – Communications Director, Bauer Media

0207 432 3317/07932 746363

cat.martin@bauermedia.co.uk