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How Northstar actually works

Four steps, no jargon, no obligation.

  1. We look at where your team’s skills gaps are

    We start with a conversation about your business — not a form to fill in before we’ve even spoken. We’ll ask about your team, where the pressure points are, and where AI, digital or other skills gaps are actually costing you time or money.

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  2. We match you with the right programme and an accredited provider

    Once we know the gap, we match it to a genuine accredited training provider — not whoever’s paying us the most that month. Programmes range from AI and automation through to a wide range of other professional and technical skills, so you’re upskilling the people you’ve already got instead of hiring for every new skill.

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  3. We walk you through the funding routes your business can use

    This is usually the part people assume is complicated. We’ll walk you through what applies to your business — apprenticeship levy funds, levy transfer from a levy-paying employer, or co-investment if you’re not a levy payer — and tell you straight what you qualify for. Funding and eligibility depend on your business; we won’t pretend otherwise.

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  4. We make the introductions, so your people can get started quickly

    Once you’ve chosen a route, we introduce you directly to the accredited training provider who delivers the programme and administers the funding. From there it’s between you and them — we stay close enough to make sure it’s actually working for you.

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What happens on the call

  • 20–30 minutes
  • We ask about your team size, sector, and where the skills gaps are
  • We tell you honestly whether funding applies and roughly what route fits
  • No pressure, no commitment — if it’s not right for you, we’ll say so

To be clear about what we are

We’re an advisory, not a training provider. We don’t deliver the training ourselves, and we don’t personally administer your levy transfer or process your funding — your accredited training provider does that. What we do is guide you to the right programme, the right provider, and the right funding route, then make the introduction.

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