Deliveroo Invests £200,000 in Apprenticeships to Fuel Small Business Growth

Deliveroo’s Big Gift to Small Businesses

In a move that’s as kind as it is clever, Deliveroo has teamed up with the tech start‑up Multiverse to hand over more than £200,000 of its unused apprenticeship levy. The money is earmarked for small businesses that want to boost their digital and data skills.

Who’s Getting the Boost?

Soldo – a fintech that’s making employee expense management a breeze.
Navenio – pioneers in indoor mapping technology.
Eebz – providing analytics to help retailers lift their sales.
And ten other little giants ranging from consulting start‑ups to fintech dreams.

Why It Matters

Recent data shows a growing skills gap in the UK: in 2022, 36% of all job vacancies were marked as “skills shortage”—up from 22% in 2017. And 15% of employers had at least one staff member with a skills gap, a bit more than the 13% snapshot from 2017.

Deliveroo hasn’t stopped here. Earlier this year they partnered with Enterprise Nation to help small‑to‑medium restaurants across the UK access courses on hiring, digital marketing, social media, sustainability, and finances. And their Rider Academy still offers riders and their families a library of 700 free online courses covering everything from CV building to coding.

Voices from the Frontlines

Keith McDougall, Director of Learning & Development at Deliveroo, said:

“We’re proud to help SMEs train their workforce and improve digital skills, in partnership with Multiverse’s apprenticeship gifting programme. As a UK‑based tech company, many of our alumni have gone on to start their own businesses, so it’s great to support other innovators.”

Peppa Wise, VP of GTM at Multiverse, added:

“SMEs are the backbone of our economy. Their success hinges on having the right skills. Funding from Deliveroo will let these small and growing businesses access essential tech, data, and engineering training. Participants will also tap into the Multiverse community, mentorship, and events that will shape their careers for the long haul.”