Liverpool City Region membership organisation, Greater Merseyside Learning Providers’ Federation (GMLPF) has bolstered its membership services by welcoming its 100^th member.

The local umbrella organisation for skills providers has welcomed construction and support services business Carillion as a member.

Carillion employs more than 46,000 people and operates in the UK, Canada and Middle East. Its apprenticeship programme, which includes locations in Liverpool and Manchester, gives participants a great opportunity to start their career in the construction industry across a number of trades including bricklaying, carpentry & joinery, painting & decorating, operations, plastering and interior systems.

Carillion will benefit from GMLPF’s membership services which includes providing a single voice that represents members’ views and priorities; helping them adapt to shifts in the local and national skills funding landscape; raising awareness of members’ services to employers, schools and young people and ensuring members meet the changing skills needs of the region’s young people and businesses. Other benefits include peer forums, networking events, training and webinars.

Jan Pennington, regional operations manager at Carillion, says: “At Carillion, we have a strong ambition to deliver high quality apprenticeships to support the skills requirements of our business, and that of the wider sectors within which we operate. A strong apprenticeship system is key to encouraging economic growth and gives young people a skilled career path to follow. As a GMLPF member, we will continue to champion apprenticeships and work alongside GMLPF to meet shifts in both the local and national training and skills landscape.”

Membership is open to any organisation which delivers training, education, or employment services within the Liverpool City Region. GMLPF’s mission is to drive prosperity of Liverpool City Region by building a foundation of skills for economic success.

Now representing 100 members across the Liverpool City Region, the organisation is hosting a range of initiatives to promote the changing apprenticeship landscape – such as the upcoming reforms and apprenticeship levy – and is engaging with local employers to promote all aspects of further education, skills and apprenticeships.

Other members include skills and apprenticeship providers Asset Training, Employability Solutions Ltd, Fit UK Training & Education, Salt Education and Jamie Carragher Sports & Learning Academy; local colleges Knowsley Community College, St Helens College, Wirral Metropolitan College, Southport College and Hugh Baird College and Plus Dane Housing.

Joanne Rymer, membership development manager, adds: “We’re delighted to hit this important milestone and welcome our 100^th GMLPF member, especially with such a well-established and respected company like Carillion. They are the perfect example of a company which values and recognises the importance of apprentices, so we’re looking forward to working with them to promote apprenticeships, share best practice and engage more young people, schools and parents with the further education options out there.”