Enterprise Rent-A-Car Supports Women-Owned Businesses Through £45K Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Programme – Partners with Skills4Stem and WEConnect International to deliver 12-month leadership programme

Six female-owned businesses have been selected to participate in a 12-month leadership development programme designed and delivered by Skills4Stem and funded through £45,000 from Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s surplus apprenticeship levy. The fully-funded one-year programme is aimed at up to 10 small businesses that wish to grow their turnover to £1m and beyond. Funding is available to recruit one more business to the programme.

The six businesses that are signed up initially are registered with WEConnect International, a global network that connects majority women-owned businesses to qualified buyers around the world. Enterprise is committed to a diverse supplier base as part of its company strategy and is a corporate member of WEConnect International. Skills4Stem is a certified WEConnect International business.

The programme has three development streams that focus on growth strategies, business operations and leadership. The sessions are designed to inspire future growth and development and are mapped into the Institute of Leadership and Management Level 3 Diploma for Managers.

The six female-owned companies are: communications agency Cerub PR (High Wycombe); Santane (Edinburgh), a technology and consulting company; Nix & Kix (London), a soft drinks manufacturer; brand consultancy Keystone Marketing (St Neots); Arc Management Consulting (London); and BX Merchandise (London).

Leigh Lafever-Ayer, HR Director for Enterprise UK, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with WEConnect International and Skills4Stem to use the surplus from our apprenticeship levy to support women-owned businesses. Diversity of our employee and supplier base is a core strategy for Enterprise. We have been a Times Top 50 Employer for Women for the past 14 years and a corporate member of WEConnect International since 2014. We look forward to seeing these businesses thrive over the next 12 months and beyond.”

Maggie Berry, Executive Director for Europe at WEConnect International, said: “Partnership is vital to accessing funding for important development programmes such as these, which are tailor-made for women-owned businesses and designed to maximise the business impact. Enterprise has been a valued partner for WEConnect International over many years. We hope their willingness to use their apprenticeship levy to support growing female-owned businesses will act as a catalyst for other organisations that may not be aware that this offers a vital access to funding for smaller organisations.”

Sarah Davis, CEO of Skills4Stem, said: “This is the second development and training programme that we’ve created through WEConnect International to make surplus apprenticeship levy funds available for female-owned SMEs. The six companies selected have a clear vision of how they will grow their businesses and how the training will help them to achieve their goals. Working together with Enterprise and WEConnect International we hope to make a real difference to the impact that female-owned businesses can make as suppliers, employers, exporters and corporate citizens, in the UK and beyond.”

As a large organisation, Enterprise has contributed to the apprenticeship levy since 2017 when it was introduced. The company offers a growing number of apprenticeship opportunities across its UK operations.