Celebrating Apprenticeships at ivolve with Impact Futures

From Learning to Leading: Celebrating Apprenticeships at ivolve with Impact Futures

Under a clear blue sky, three ivolve colleagues planted trees to mark their apprenticeship success with Impact Futures. Each sapling symbolises personal growth, professional achievement, and the thriving future ahead – showing how, at ivolve, careers don’t just grow, they flourish.

In a sunny corner of the garden, three newly planted saplings now stand as living symbols of determination and achievement. They showcase the belief that growth is always possible, especially through apprenticeships at ivolve.

These trees were planted in celebration of three dedicated ivolve team members – Registered Manager Will, Support Worker Chloe, and Team Leader, Jade. They’ve recently completed apprenticeship programmes with Impact Futures, a national training provider delivering high-quality apprenticeships..

It was a bright, joyful morning when colleagues gathered outside to mark the achievement. The planting forms part of Roots for Achievers, an Impact Futures initiative that plants trees for every learner who completes their programme.

The idea is simple yet powerful – just as a tree grows and flourishes with care, so do learners who are supported to develop their skills and confidence. In this way, each sapling stands as a permanent reminder of what’s possible with dedication and the right guidance.

Armed with specially made trowels gifted for the day, Will, Chloe, and Jade took turns breaking the ground and placing their young trees into the soil. Meanwhile, as they worked, Will reflected on how different this experience had been from his past attempts at professional learning.

“I’ve worked with several training providers over my career. In the past, I always found the balance of work and study too much – I never completed. Impact Futures changed that.”

Will – Registered Manager

He said, “They made me feel comfortable and confident in managing that balance. My Learning and Development Coach was approachable, respectful, and supportive. As a result, I not only completed my course this time – I completed with a Distinction!”

Our collaboration with Impact Futures means we can offer apprenticeships at ivolve across all levels, from entry-level roles to leadership development. It’s one of the ways we make growth possible, so we can help colleagues like Chloe, Will and Jade turn potential into career progression.

This commitment has seen ivolve recognised as a Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer for the first time this year and named one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025 for the second year running. Together, these accolades reflect what our teams already know: ivolve is a place where you can belong, learn, and achieve.

For many, apprenticeships are not just a qualification – they’re a turning point. They allow people to learn while they earn, apply new knowledge directly in their role, and develop the confidence to take the next step in their career.

For Jade, completing her apprenticeship wasn’t an ending – it was the first step in a longer journey. As a result, she applies her new skills daily, but she’s eager to push herself further.

“It’s given me more confidence as a Team Leader, and I’m looking forward to progressing to Levels 4 and 5.”

Jade – Team Leader

Standing alongside her newly planted tree, she shared her plans for the future: “I’ve really enjoyed doing my course with Impact Futures. My Development Coach has been so helpful.”

She continues, “It’s given me more confidence, and I’m looking forward to progressing to Levels 4 and 5.”

Her enthusiasm mirrors the Roots for Achievers trees – planted today, but with potential to grow for decades.

Will’s distinction, Chloe’s transformation, and Jade’s hunger for progression are proof of what’s possible with the right support. And how apprenticeships at ivolve can make that happen.

As the saplings grow, they’ll stand as a daily reminder that personal and professional growth takes time, commitment, and care – and that the results are worth it.

While Will’s journey was about overcoming previous barriers, and Jade’s was about progression, for Chloe, the apprenticeship opened doors she had only dreamed of. Smiling as she stepped back to look at her newly planted tree – a physical reminder of her personal transformation.

Completing her Level 2 apprenticeship gave her new skills and, more importantly, the belief she could aim higher.

“This has been a transformative journey. It’s given me the confidence I needed to reach my goals and explore opportunities I never thought possible.”

Chloe – Support Worker

“This has been a transformative journey,” Chloe explained. “It’s given me the confidence I needed to reach my goals and explore opportunities I never thought possible.”

Her words reflect the heart of ivolve’s learning culture: every colleague deserves the opportunity to grow, progress, and feel proud of what they’ve achieved.

At ivolve, we see that every day in our teams. We see colleagues gaining new qualifications, stepping into new roles, and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. Ultimately, just like young trees, when you plant the right seeds and nurture them, the future is full of possibility.

Ready to join a team that values your growth and celebrates your achievements? We’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re new to care or looking to step into leadership, apprenticeships at ivolve might work for you. They’ll give you the skills, support, and confidence to achieve your goals and thrive in your career.

When thousands of colleagues across ivolve took part in this year’s annual colleague survey, they weren’t just sharing feedback about their workplace. They were helping support something much bigger.

Thanks to record participation in our annual colleague survey fundraising initiative, we’ve proudly donated funds to both Alzheimer’s Society and Cancer Research UK, turning colleague feedback into meaningful support for two charities that touch the lives of millions of people across the UK.

The donations were formally presented during a special cheque presentation event attended by representatives from both charities, celebrating the collective impact that can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.

At ivolve, listening to colleagues isn’t simply something we do once a year. It’s part of how we shape our culture, improve experiences and create a workplace where people feel valued, heard and empowered to make a difference.

This year, however, the survey delivered something even more powerful. For every completed survey response, we pledged to donate £1 to charity, giving colleagues not only the opportunity to share their views but also a direct say in where the money would go.

The result was our highest ever level of survey engagement, with thousands of colleagues from across our nursing, residential care and supported living homes in England and Wales taking part.

Together, those individual responses created a collective contribution that will now help support people affected by dementia and fund life-saving cancer research.

How Colleague Survey Fundraising Made a Difference

At ivolve, we believe that every voice matters. Our colleague survey plays a vital role in helping us shape the future of our organisation.

The insights colleagues share influence decisions, improvements and priorities across the business, helping us continue building an environment where people can do their best work while delivering meaningful care to the people we support. The colleague survey fundraising initiative was designed to reinforce that belief.

By linking survey participation directly to charitable giving, colleagues could see first-hand how sharing their views could make a difference beyond their own workplace.

The response exceeded expectations. Thousands of colleagues took the time to provide feedback, demonstrating not only their commitment to improving ivolve but also their desire to support causes that matter deeply to them.

When it came to selecting the charity, colleagues were invited to vote for the cause they wanted the donation to support. The result was incredibly close, so rather than selecting a single winner, we chose to split the funds between the two charities that received the highest number of votes: Alzheimer’s Society and Cancer Research UK.

The decision ensured that both charities would benefit from the generosity and engagement of colleagues across the organisation. It’s a simple idea, but one that reflects something important about our culture.

We know that meaningful change often starts with small actions. Completing a survey may seem like a small act on its own, but when thousands of people come together, those actions can create a powerful impact.

That principle sits at the heart of our employee value proposition and the culture we’ve worked hard to build. It’s also one of the reasons ivolve has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Places to Work by The Sunday Times for three consecutive years. We know that when colleagues feel listened to, valued and involved in shaping the future, everyone benefits.

"We simply can't reach those who need us without support from incredible fundraisers like ivolve Care & Support."

Jodie Jarecki,
Regional Fundraiser – Alzheimer’s Society

Supporting Causes Close to Colleagues’ Hearts

The charities selected by colleagues represent causes that affect countless families, communities and colleagues across the UK.

Alzheimer’s Society works tirelessly to support people living with dementia, fund groundbreaking research and campaign for change.

Speaking following the cheque presentation, Jodie Jarecki, Regional Fundraiser for the East Midlands at Alzheimer’s Society, highlighted the difference the donation will make.

“We are so grateful that ivolve Care & Support chose to support Alzheimer’s Society. We provide vital support to people living with dementia, funds groundbreaking research and campaigns to make dementia the priority it should be. It will take a society to beat dementia.”

She continued, “There are around a million people living with dementia in the UK including 14,006 in Derbyshire. We all have a role to play in ending the devastation dementia causes. We simply can’t reach everyone who needs us without the continued support of our incredible fundraisers like colleagues at ivolve Care & Support.”

"Thank you so much for choosing to support Cancer Research UK. Every penny raised goes towards vital life-saving research."

Joyce Clifford,
Alfreton Representative – Cancer Research UK

The donation will help Alzheimer’s Society continue providing vital support services while funding research aimed at improving lives and finding solutions for future generations.

Cancer Research UK, meanwhile, remains the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving and improving lives through research, influence and information.

Representing the charity at the presentation event was Joyce Clifford, Chairman of the Alfreton and District Committee for Cancer Research UK.

Reflecting on the occasion, she said: “A lovely morning to celebrate, and so well organised. Thank you so much for choosing to support Cancer Research UK. Every penny raised goes towards vital life-saving research.”

This is why initiatives like this matter. Behind every donation is the potential for hope. Hope for better treatments. Hope for greater understanding. Hope for brighter futures for individuals and families facing some of life’s toughest challenges. And we’re proud to be part of that in some small way.

A Workplace Where Feedback Matters

The success of our colleague survey charity donation initiative is a reflection of the culture we continue to build.

Across our organisation, we support more than 1,150 adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and complex support needs through more than 185 homes and support services across England and Wales.

Delivering high-quality support starts with having engaged, motivated and valued colleagues. That’s why listening matters.

Every year, our colleague survey helps us better understand what’s working, where we can improve and how we can continue making ivolve a great place to work. The feedback we receive directly informs actions, priorities and improvements across the organisation.

Divisional Head of People for England, Keeley Denman, believes this year’s initiative demonstrates the power of collective action. “The response from our colleagues demonstrates their shared commitment to making a difference and shows that small individual actions – such as completing a survey – can come together to create a significant collective impact.

“The success of our colleague survey fundraising initiative reflects the culture we continue to build, while also reinforcing our commitment to giving back. Our annual survey remains a key part of how we gather insight and shape our future and we have been delighted it has further benefitted not one, but two charities close to the hearts of our colleagues.”

That commitment to listening has helped shape a culture where colleagues feel able to speak up, share ideas and influence positive change. We’ve recently been recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for the third consecutive year, reflecting the experiences and feedback of colleagues across the organisation. While awards are never the goal, they provide a valuable reminder that listening to colleagues and acting on what they tell us makes a real difference.

Whether it’s supporting people to achieve personal goals, volunteering within local communities, raising money for important causes or sharing ideas that help improve our organisation, our colleagues consistently demonstrate the values that make ivolve special.

"The success of our colleague survey reflects the culture we continue to build, while also reinforcing our commitment to giving back"

Keeley Denman
Divisional Head of People for England at ivolve

Small Actions, Lasting Impact

The cheque presentation marked the end of one fundraising initiative, but it also highlighted something much bigger.

When people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they contribute. And when thousands of people contribute together, remarkable things can happen.

What began as colleague survey fundraising became an opportunity to support two incredible charities, fund important work and demonstrate the positive impact that colleague voices can have both within and beyond the workplace.

At ivolve, we’re incredibly proud of every colleague who took the time to complete the survey, cast their vote and help make these donations possible. Their feedback will continue helping us shape the future of ivolve.

Their participation has already helped make a difference to two charities doing extraordinary work. As we begin reviewing this year’s feedback, we’ll continue using those insights to strengthen our culture, improve colleague experience and ensure ivolve remains a place where people can thrive.

Because when colleagues feel heard, supported and empowered, positive things happen – for our teams, for the people we support and, as this initiative has shown, for the wider communities around us too.

Looking for a workplace where your voice matters?

At ivolve, colleague feedback helps shape decisions, drive improvements and create positive change. Explore our latest opportunities and discover how you can build a meaningful career with us.