The Growth Company is proud to partner with XPS Group as part of its apprenticeship delivery. XPS Group is one of the UK’s leading specialist pensions consultancies, providing advisory, administration and investment services to clients across the public and private sectors. With over 2,000 employees nationwide, XPS is committed to developing its workforce sustainably, investing in training and professional development to build long term capability and deliver high quality services to its clients.
Making the Levy Work Harder
As a levy-paying employer with over 2,000 employees nationwide, XPS Group has taken a strategic approach to apprenticeships, using its levy to invest in high-quality training that directly supports business growth and long-term workforce planning.
“The levy allows us to fund the training element of apprenticeships,” explains Lloyd Thomas, Learning & Development Consultant at XPS. “It means we’re able to give people recognised qualifications and structured learning without additional training costs to the business.”
For XPS, this has opened up opportunities to embed apprenticeships across the organisation, including pensions administration and wider financial services roles. Apprentices benefit not only from formal qualifications, but also from the wraparound tutor support that comes with an apprenticeship programme.
“You’re not just getting a qualification,” Lloyd adds. “You’ve got a tutor there to support learning, build good habits, and really challenge individuals to understand the bigger picture of what they’re doing in their role.”
A Partnership That Delivers
Working with the Growth Company has supported XPS to maximise the value of its levy and maintain high standards across its apprenticeship programmes.
“Having a strong provider relationship is key,” Lloyd explains. “It’s about feedback, communication, and making sure apprentices have everything they need to succeed.”
Recruiting for the Future
XPS currently has a cohort of 13 Level 3 Pensions Administrator apprentices with the Growth Company, all recruited specifically into the business as apprentices. While many are at the earlier stages of their careers, the organisation takes an inclusive approach to recruitment.
“We don’t put age limits on apprenticeships,” says Lloyd. “Over the years, we’ve had school leavers, people in their early 20s, and career changers coming from sectors like retail. Apprenticeships give us access to a broader, more diverse talent pool.”
Virtual delivery ensures that apprentices across multiple sites to access consistent, high-quality learning while remaining embedded in their teams.
Engagement, Structure and Real Results
For XPS, apprenticeships play a complementary role alongside traditional recruitment routes. They provide structure, confidence and clarity around what ‘good’ performance looks like.
National Apprenticeship Week provides an opportunity to celebrate the impact apprentices are having across companies like XPS Group, and highlight how apprenticeships can benefit businesses of all sizes.
If you'd like to find out more information about our apprenticeship programmes, get in touch.