Metro Bank has chosen to support a number of female-led businesses based in Northamptonshire with funding for apprentices. Metro Bank has transferred a portion of its Apprenticeship Levy to Velvet Mortgages and Encore Environment.

A signatory and active member of the Investing in Women Code, Metro Bank is keen to support and encourage female entrepreneurs to start up and grow businesses.

Named 'Best Environmental and Waste Management Consultancy 2024 – East Midlands' Sywell based Encore Environment is a progressive company actively trying to reduce waste for its clients under the leadership of managing director Rachel Rowley - who was also named Businesswoman of the Year at the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards 2023. Metro Bank is supporting Encore Environment by funding an apprentice to complete the AAT level 3 diploma in accounting.

Corby based Velvet Mortgages is a mother and daughters run business led by Joanna Streames. Velvet Mortgages helps clients find the most suitable mortgage and associated protection policies. Metro Bank is supporting the family run business by funding two Level 3 mortgage adviser apprenticeships.

The Apprenticeship Levy is a tax that all employers with a payroll over £3m pay. The scheme allows employers like Metro Bank to share a portion of their apprenticeship levy with organisations that are too small to pay into the levy.

"As a community bank, we are very supportive of local businesses and I was speaking at a network event about how we could help support with the funding of apprenticeships when Rachel and Joanna reached out to me," explains Kerry Reynolds, retail and business banking director, Metro Bank. "Metro Bank has been an active supporter of apprenticeships since 2017 with more than 150 of our own colleagues completing apprenticeship programmes. I was delighted these Northamptonshire businesswomen took advantage of our offer which as so much more than just funding as we not only have apprenticeship expertise, but also colleagues who could them both offer support and guidance through the entire process".