Supporting apprenticeships - pictured (l-r) are Katie Platts, Deputy Manager at St Margaret's Nursery, apprentice Becky Baker (with Koda), and Cllr Pam Brivio.
Dover District Council is welcoming the success of a scheme inviting local businesses to apply for funding to support apprenticeships - and is encouraging new applications to come forward.
DDC Cabinet Member for Skills and Education, Cllr Pam Brivio visited St Margaret’s Nursery this week to congratulate the first apprentice to benefit under the scheme.
This follows news that DDC launched an Apprenticeship Levy transfer scheme earlier this year as part of National Apprenticeship Week. Placements supported by the scheme have now started at St Margaret’s Nursery and Laureston House Residential Home in Dover.
Becky Baker from Dover is benefitting from training after nursery staff successfully applied to DDC for funding for Level 3 training for the Early Years Educator apprentice.
Becky said: “Apprenticeships are a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the chance to learn in depth and to expand your knowledge in a work environment. I would encourage anyone interested to find out more and make the most of these opportunities.”
Jayme Dunigan, Nursery Manager at St Margaret’s Nursery said: “The support from DDC and Education and Skills Training and Development ensures we can continue to train our staff to a high standard. High-quality training is fundamental to giving our early years children the best possible start, enabling them to grow, learn, and thrive. We are sincerely grateful that this partnership makes it possible for us to continue delivering the standard of early education our community depends on.”
Funds continue to be made available through DDC to encourage employers to boost their businesses and discover new talent or develop the skills of existing employees through apprenticeships. The council continues to provide this opportunity by offering to transfer part of its apprenticeship levy fund to local businesses.
DDC has also offered a range of apprenticeships, graduate placements and work experience within the authority and has a number of apprentice success stories.
Cllr Pam Brivio, DDC Cabinet Member for Skills and Education said: “We are delighted to make this funding available, and it was wonderful to meet Becky and everyone at the nursery. We are very pleased to extend this opportunity to local businesses, so they can continue to benefit from and develop the talent we have in our district. Apprenticeships provide a great chance to combine work with study, providing hands-on experience while earning a salary and gaining qualifications.”
For more information on the Apprenticeship Levy, please see the GOV.UK website or for more information or to apply for the Apprenticeship Levy transfer scheme locally, please see the apprenticeships page on the DDC website.
Posted on 12 December 2025