How Apprentice Funding Helped Ryan’s Career Take Off – And is Helping Local Firms

A young worker has told of how his career has been boosted thanks to a new programme super-charging apprenticeships across the region.

Ryan Headlam, 23, has completed his apprenticeship with Middlesbrough-based IT support and services firm Andromeda Solutions with help from Tees Valley Combined Authority’s Apprenticeship Levy Matching Service.

The service uses unspent apprenticeship levy funding from major employers to create more apprenticeship opportunities and develop the region’s talent pipeline.

Tees Valley Combined Authority can match companies with unspent funds to local businesses to cover apprenticeship training and assessment costs.

Local firms are now being encouraged to apply for the funds so they can also recruit and create apprenticeships for their businesses.

Funding from the levy helped support Ryan’s Level 4 Network Engineering qualification with Darlington-based digital training provider Baltic Apprenticeships.

Following his successful completion, he has since moved on to a senior role as Service Delivery Manager at Andromeda, helping support the firm’s rapid growth.

During his Level 4 Apprenticeship, which followed an initial Level 3 qualification with Baltic, Ryan gained a deeper understanding of key aspects of IT including servers, firewalls, and network routing.

He said: “Working and learning at the same time benefitted each other and getting the real-world practice helped with the coursework side of my training.

“I’m constantly learning and new things crop up all time, no two days are the same.

“I would highly recommend the apprenticeship route. It’s given me the opportunity to progress my career and do better for myself. You also earn a wage while you’re learning, which has been a real benefit.”

Peter Summerhill, Managing Director at Andromeda Solutions, said: “”Ryan has now been with me since the early days of the business and it’s been great to watch him develop into the role he’s now in. He’s been there at the start and then he’s been with me as the business has grown and he’s grown with the business.

“It’s been important to have the support which we’ve received. I would certainly not have been as confident in moving forward due to the costs associated with employing new staff so this has been a huge help.”

Baltic Apprenticeships played a key role in Ryan’s success, finding him a role at Andromeda after he applied for his Level 3 course with the training provider.

Caitlin Roberts, Senior Strategic Account Manager at Baltic Apprenticeships, said: “It’s incredible to see how far Ryan’s come; his journey highlights the impact apprenticeships can have – not just for individuals, but for growing businesses too.

“The Levy Matching Service is a fantastic opportunity for smaller businesses across the Tees Valley to access fully funded training, whether that’s to bring in fresh talent or upskill their existing team.

“The service is making a real difference across the region – and at Baltic, we’re proud to be part of that, supporting local talent and helping businesses grow through apprenticeships.”

Major global names including the BBC, Amazon and bp were announced in December 2024 among the first wave of organisations to sign up to the gift underspend levy.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “We are passionate about ensuring local people have the very best opportunities to develop their careers and go far right here in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

“Ryan’s story is a fantastic example of how we are providing a vital service which is using funding from major organisations to support our outstanding small and medium-sized companies develop the next generation of talent to help them grow.”

To find out more about the Apprenticeship Levy Matching Service and to apply go here