Discover how Knowsley Council’s partnership with Realise has transformed apprenticeship engagement for SMEs in the Liverpool City Region – breaking down barriers, boosting enrolments, and helping local businesses build a stronger, more skilled workforce.
Knowsley Council’s Knowsley Apprentice team works closely with local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to support workforce development and apprenticeship opportunities. However, engaging SMEs with apprenticeships has historically been challenging due to complex processes, lack of awareness, and limited internal resources.
To address this, Knowsley Council partnered with Realise to streamline apprenticeship engagement and ensure that both employers and learners receive the right level of support throughout their journey.
“Realise has played a vital role in increasing apprenticeship enrolment across SMEs in the Liverpool City Region. Their collaborative and hands-on approach makes a real difference.”
Before the partnership, SMEs across the Liverpool City Region faced several barriers to engaging with apprenticeships:
Complexity and confusion around employment legislation and digital apprenticeship accounts.
Lack of confidence in navigating the recruitment and training process.
Limited time and resources to commit to workforce development.
“Many SME employers were understandably overwhelmed by the complexities involved in hiring apprentices. This lack of clarity often discouraged them from engaging at all.”
This often resulted in hesitation, underutilisation of apprenticeship funding, and missed opportunities for skills growth.
Realise became a trusted partner to the Knowsley Apprentice team by providing end-to-end apprenticeship support for SMEs, including:
> Working with employers to identify workforce development needs.
> Designing tailored apprenticeship opportunities across diverse sectors – from Business Administration to Teaching Assistants.
> Acting as the key point of contact for employers, simplifying processes and offering guidance on everything from digital accounts to IT setup.
> Providing hands-on and personalised support to both employers and learners, ensuring smooth enrolment, retention, and completion.
“By involving Realise from the outset, they take away the stress for employers. Whether it’s technical support or apprenticeship queries, they are there every step of the way.”
The collaboration has delivered measurable improvements in SME apprenticeship engagement:
Increased enrolment of apprentices across multiple sectors.
Higher retention and completion rates, thanks to Realise’s personalised support.
Greater confidence among SMEs, with many local businesses now actively recruiting and retaining apprentices.
Enhanced efficiency through Realise’s proactive communication, transparent processes, and willingness to signpost to other providers when needed.
“Businesses that were hesitant at first are now recruiting and retaining apprentices with confidence. The strong completion rates we’re seeing are a direct reflection of Realise’s support.”
One notable outcome is that businesses previously reluctant to engage with apprenticeships have now seen clear benefits, with both employers and learners thriving through the programme.
The Knowsley Apprentice team highlighted several key strengths of Realise:
Proactive engagement with new employers.
Excellent communication and transparency throughout the process.
Flexibility and collaboration, including signposting to alternative providers where necessary.
Professionalism and expertise, making them a trusted partner in workforce development.
“Their excellent communication fosters trust and efficiency. We know that if we put an employer in touch with Realise, they’ll be in safe hands.”
“What sets Realise apart is their willingness to find the best solution – even if it means recommending another provider. That honesty is invaluable.”
“We would highly recommend Realise to other local authorities and employer networks. Their professionalism, expertise, consistent communication, and unwavering support throughout the apprenticeship process are invaluable. Realise has been instrumental in helping us deliver successful training outcomes for Knowsley residents, and they continue to be a trusted and effective partner in our efforts to grow and develop the local workforce.”
— The Knowsley Apprentice Team
If you’re a local authority, council, or organisation supporting SMEs and want to boost apprenticeship opportunities in your region, get in touch with Realise today.
Together, we can break down barriers, build employer confidence, and create life-changing opportunities for learners while strengthening your local economy.
👉 Contact us to explore how we can support your organisation.