Maikai and Apprentify launch levy-funded apprenticeship programs for UK schools and charities
A new UK partnership between Maikai and Apprentify redirects unused apprenticeship levy funding into schools, charities, and community organizations, with national programs focused on responsible AI adoption and long-term organizational sustainability.
Photo credit: Apprentify
Maikai and Apprentify have formed a UK-focused partnership designed to unlock access to fully funded apprenticeships for schools, charities, and grassroots organizations that typically sit outside the levy system.
By using transfers from the Growth and Skills Levy, the partnership enables eligible organizations to access apprenticeship training without upfront cost. For the education and voluntary sectors, the move addresses a growing mismatch between rising expectations around digital capability and governance, and limited internal capacity to deliver them.
AI capability in schools shifts from experimentation to policy
One strand of the partnership centers on responsible and ethical AI use in UK schools. Delivered through an apprenticeship route, the program targets teachers, school leaders, and education staff who are increasingly expected to manage AI adoption alongside safeguarding, data protection, and regulatory compliance.
Rather than focusing on individual tools, the training emphasizes governance, policy development, and workforce readiness. Participants are supported to establish internal frameworks for AI use, align staff training with school policy, and ensure student-facing applications are appropriate and compliant.
The approach reflects wider sector concerns that AI adoption in schools has moved faster than formal structures, leaving leaders responsible for oversight without the time or specialist expertise to build it from scratch.
Community and sport organizations target financial resilience
A second national program extends the levy-funded model into UK grassroots sport and community organizations. The focus here is on fundraising capability, with apprenticeships designed to strengthen financial resilience and reduce reliance on short-term or unstable funding sources.
For many local organizations, access to structured training has historically been limited by cost rather than need. By using levy transfers from large employers, the partnership creates a route for long-term skills development that does not depend on discretionary budgets.
Both programs operate through the Skills and Growth Levy transfer mechanism, which allows large UK employers to redirect up to 50 percent of unused levy funds each year to other organizations. The model aligns with government priorities around workforce reskilling, AI capability, and community development, while offering levy-paying employers a clearer social impact pathway.
Sam Field, CRO at Apprentify Group, says: “This partnership is a perfect example of how levy innovation can unlock opportunities for those who need them most. Not only are we addressing critical skills gaps in education and sport but also helping organisations make a tangible difference through their CSR commitments. It’s about turning unused funds into life-changing opportunities.”
David Ellis, Founder and Chief Executive at Maikai, adds: “Our partnership with Apprentify enables us to deliver our mission of building lifelong learning and good work, at scale. By unlocking further Skills and Growth Levy funding, we’re accelerating our ambition to direct £100 million into opportunities that ensure everyone can thrive in the future of work.”
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