Royal Mail has announced it will double its apprenticeship support for small businesses, gifting another £1 million of its levy to help SMEs upskill their workforce.
The move follows the success of its first £1m funding round, which was oversubscribed earlier this year.
The new funding is open to SMEs with up to 250 employees that sell products online. It forms part of Royal Mail Means Business – a nationwide campaign launched to champion UK SMEs and help them grow.
The first round of levy gifting, made available in June, supported more than 140 small businesses across sectors ranging from e-commerce, manufacturing and engineering to health and care services. Apprenticeships funded so far cover roles as diverse as marketing, HR, software development and data technicians.
Eligible SMEs can apply the new funding to any Government-approved apprenticeship course, from industry-specific training to programmes in digital marketing, AI, finance and e-commerce. The initiative is designed to help businesses address skills shortages and build expertise for long-term growth.
The scheme was informed by research conducted by Royal Mail with the British Chambers of Commerce earlier this year, which found only a third of SMEs expected to grow in 2025. A shortage of skills was identified as one of the key barriers.
As part of its SME-focused campaign, Royal Mail has pledged to:
• Launch a new Small Business Hub with centralised information and advice
• Address the skills and knowledge gap through levy gifting and training opportunities
• Provide greater support through Royal Mail services
• Help exporters navigate customs requirements
Companies with annual wage bills over £3m are required to pay into the apprenticeship levy, but can choose to gift unused levy funds to other organisations. Royal Mail said it has chosen to support SMEs because of the unique role it plays as the UK’s Universal Service Provider, delivering to all 32 million addresses nationwide.
Applications for the new funding round are now open via the Royal Mail Small Business Hub.
Paula Stannett, Chief People Officer at Royal Mail, said: “After an overwhelming response to our first £1 million round of apprenticeship funding, we’re proud to double our commitment and help even more businesses. With apprenticeship courses available for a wider range of subjects, they are an excellent way for companies to upskill their workforce.
“Royal Mail plays a unique role in supporting small and medium businesses across the UK, and this funding is part of our broader mission to help them thrive in today’s competitive market.”
