AN INITIATIVE to invest in more than 600 apprenticeships in the early years sector is being spearheaded by the Co-op.

The retail giant, along with other members of The Royal Foundation’s business taskforce for early childhood, is targeting employers across the private, public, voluntary and community sectors.

Its aim is to help deliver the workforce required to staff the creation of 3,000 nurseries across England.

The Co-op will use its Levy Share service, which allows partners to pledge up to 50 per cent of annual unspent apprenticeship levy funds and share them to support the provision of apprenticeships in under-represented groups.

It is creating a specific fund in support of early childhood, with a starting pledge of £1 million from members of the business taskforce and a commitment to raising £5 million over the next five years, with additional pledges from Mid-Counties Co-operative.

Co-op chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq said: “Whether we are parents or not, we will all have young children in our lives, and we will understand the importance of supporting them and also their parents through the early years.

“Supporting early years greatly benefits business.”