Unlocking the levy: Turning unspent budgets into future-ready skills

At our Early Careers Conference 2026, London, we heard from Hayley Bowd, Global Early Careers Recruiting Lead Expedia Group, on how her team transformed Expedia’s underused UK apprenticeship levy into a powerful upskilling engine.

Hayley shared the honest story of a global, fast-paced company navigating the complexities of a UK-specific scheme while supporting employees from entry-level roles to directors. She discussed the challenges of stakeholder buy-in, connecting initiatives to company strategy, and balancing fairness