How Fareport Are Making Apprenticeships Accessible in Central South

Apprenticeships play a vital role in supporting local businesses, building future talent, and strengthening the Central Southern regions, i.e.  Hampshire ‘s and Berkshire’s economy. But for many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Apprenticeships can feel out of reach. This could be due to cost, complexity, or a lack of understanding about the process. 

For many SMEs, the biggest worry is cost and Apprenticeships are often seen as expensive or difficult to fund. In practice, most SMEs pay nothing at all, as apprenticeship training is typically fully funded through levy transfer. Where levy funding isn’t available, the current SME contribution is just 5%, and following the recent Budget announcement, this will reduce to 0% from August 2026 for apprentices under 25. 

Fareport helps Hampshire employers understand exactly what funding they’re eligible for and guides them through every step, ensuring cost is never a barrier to developing people. 

Apprenticeships come with a lot of terminology, rules, and compliance steps. For busy Hampshire businesses, that can feel overwhelming. 

Fareport’s approach is simple: We handle the complexity, so employers don’t have to. 

We support SMEs with: 

• Apprenticeship enrolments and paperwork 
• Individual learning plans & additional learner support 
• Ongoing progress reviews 
• Compliance guidance and reporting 

Working nationally while rooted in the Central South, Fareport is the SME expert for apprenticeships across the region. Based in Hampshire, we understand the Central South business landscape, from maritime and coastal industries to retail, hospitality, public services, and fast-growing tech roles. 

Our skilled Apprenticeship team: 

• Builds strong relationships with local employers 
• Tailor’s programmes to local sector needs 
• Provides in-person support where needed 
• Understands the challenges unique to Southern SMEs 

This local-first mindset ensures that Apprenticeship delivery provides real value to the Southern  region. 

Fareport Apprenticeships are designed to give learners the skills and confidence they need to excel. No matter if they’re new starters or experienced staff developing new capabilities. 

We ensure accessibility through: 

• One-to-one coaching 
• Flexible, blended learning options 
• Clear communication and support 
• Tailored workplace training plans 
• Additional English/Maths support when needed 

Our goal is to help every learner feel capable, supported, and ready to progress, as well as ensure every business see’s the impact of our training solutions through Apprenticeships. 

Many SMEs promote internally, which is typically the quickest way to fill roles, but can also leave new managers feeling unprepared. 

Fareport’s leadership & management Apprenticeships make progression accessible for all, helping SMEs develop confident, capable team leaders and managers with: 

• Coaching and communication skills 
• Performance management capability 
• People and culture understanding 
• Strong decision-making and prioritisation 

This builds a stronger talent pipeline within local organisations, reducing the need to recruit externally. 

A major barrier to Apprenticeship accessibility is the awareness of them. Many people still think Apprenticeships are only for young people or for specific trades. 

Fareport works across the Central Southern region to increase understanding by: 

• Supporting careers events 
• Partnering with local councils and community groups 
• Creating accessible online resources 
• Working closely with employers to promote internal opportunities 

We’re committed to helping learners of all ages discover the benefits of Apprenticeships. 

At Fareport, our mission is simple: make Apprenticeships accessible, high-quality, and genuinely transformative. 

By supporting businesses, empowering learners, and strengthening skills across the region, we’re helping Hampshire grow a flexible, confident, and future-ready workforce. 

Talk to us today, and let us be the first step into helping you build a greater workforce. Complete our form and our team can help you and support your training needs.