Chris Ludlow, Director of Partnerships

Chris works with Multi-Academy Trusts across the England to help them maximise their apprenticeship levy usage and build cost-effective, high-impact training strategies for support staff and future teachers.

Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) across England are facing the most challenging financial climate in over a decade. Inflationary pressures, unfunded teacher pay rises and squeezed reserves are forcing difficult decisions in schools up and down the country.

But amid these growing pressures, many MATs are overlooking a major opportunity to ease the strain and invest in their people – the apprenticeship levy.

This is money trusts are already paying into. When used well, it can fund high-quality training programmes that support long-term recruitment, build internal capacity and improve staff retention – all without adding to the wage bill.

The budget crisis facing MATs

In May 2025, Tes reported that academy trust leaders were describing the current climate as “the toughest budget round in a generation”.

• Harris Federation expects an £8.25 million shortfall due to a 2.8% teacher pay rise – likely resulting in 40–45 redundancies
• United Learning projects £10.5 million in unfunded costs from a 4% pay award – equivalent to 400 posts
• Star Academies has warned that many of its schools will be in deficit by the end of the financial year

And these aren’t isolated cases. Many trusts are facing tough choices – scaling back support roles, cutting enrichment programmes, or delaying vital staff development.

A pot of funding many MATs aren’t using

Since 2017, all large employers have paid into the apprenticeship levy – including academy trusts. But despite millions being paid into the system by schools, uptake remains low.

A House of Commons research briefing confirms that schools and MATs are not drawing down their full entitlement – often because of a lack of capacity to navigate the system or a misunderstanding of what apprenticeships can offer.

After 24 months, unused levy funds expire and are returned to the Treasury. In other words, trusts are losing funding they could have used to train staff.

What can apprenticeships do for a MAT?

Apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers – they’re for anyone, at any stage of their career. And they’re one of the most flexible, practical tools available to trusts trying to do more with less.

Here’s how MATs we work with are using them:

1. To retain good staff

Staff who can see a pathway ahead – and who are supported to grow – are more likely to stay. Apprenticeships offer structured progression routes for teaching assistants, early years staff and pastoral teams. At Best Practice Network, we’re seeing trusts use Level 3 and Level 5 pathways to help committed colleagues develop into specialist roles.

2. To reduce recruitment costs

MATs are using apprenticeships to bring in new teaching assistants and support staff, creating cost-effective pipelines of talent for hard-to-fill roles. With the right wraparound support, these recruits stay and grow with the school.

3. To upskill existing staff

Whether it’s developing SEND expertise, building curriculum knowledge or supporting social and emotional wellbeing, apprenticeships can be tailored to match a school’s specific needs – all funded through the levy.

How Best Practice Network can help

We work with trusts across the country to build apprenticeship strategies that actually work. That means helping you:

• Map your current and future workforce needs
• Design clear development routes for TAs, early years staff and aspiring teachers
• Draw down and manage your levy funding efficiently
• Deliver high-quality training with minimal disruption to the school day

Our programmes include:

• Level 3 Teaching Assistant
• Level 3 Teaching Assistant (SEND route)
• Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant (with pathways in SEND, Curriculum, or Social & Emotional Wellbeing)
• HLTA progression options

All our apprenticeships are designed for schools and delivered by education specialists.

A final word

In a time when MATs are being asked to deliver more with less, apprenticeships are one of the smartest investments a trust can make.

They’re fully funded through your existing levy payments. They support your staff to grow. They reduce recruitment costs. And they keep your best people in the profession.

If your MAT isn’t yet making full use of the levy, now’s the time to start. We’re here to help you do it – simply, strategically, and at scale.

Interested in making better use of your levy?

Let’s talk. Contact our team to discuss how apprenticeships can support your trust’s priorities.