Apprenticeships are a cost-effective way to bring both new talent into your business and recognise and professionally develop existing staff members.
In England the apprenticeships that we offer are funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) who are government owned. This means that you as an employer must contribute very little towards the cost of training.
Funding is allocated differently in Wales, please click here to find out the latest guidance.
What can I expect to contribute?
In England, funding often depends on two factors, the size of your business and the age of the apprentice you would like to recruit. Please see the tables below to get an indication of what you could be expected to contribute.
Small Employer 0-49 Employees
Is your apprentice 16-18 years old?
Yes - No Contribution required as fully funded through ESFA
No - You will be required to contribute 5% of the total cost for the apprenticeship, price is often determined based on a prospective apprentices’ level of Recognised Prior Learning if applicable.
Medium – Large Employer Non-Levy, 50 Employees or more
Is your apprentice 16-18 years old?
Yes - You will be required to contribute 5% of the total cost for the apprenticeship, price is often determined based on a prospective apprentices’ level of Recognised Prior Learning if applicable.
No - You will be required to contribute 5% of the total cost for the apprenticeship, price is often determined based on a prospective apprentices’ level of Recognised Prior Learning if applicable.
In England, if you take on an apprentice aged 16-18 or a 19+ with additional learning needs you will receive a £1,000 grant from the UK government
The Apprenticeship Levy
If you have a company pay bill of over £3 million then you are required to pay the Apprenticeship Levy. This is a requirement by government and means you must contribute 0.5% of your annual salary bill to taking on apprentices.
For more information on the Levy please visit the government website.
If you are a levy paying employer you can transfer unused levy funds to another company to help them recruit new apprentices.
ESFA Funding Process Guidance
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) have confirmed a new funding process for small and medium businesses. Employers taking on new apprentices in 2020 will now be required to access government funding for apprenticeships using the gov.uk portal, The Apprenticeship Service (TAS).
We have created easy to follow, step by step guidance to make this process as simple as possible, please click on the links below.
Other costs to consider
- You, the Employer must pay the apprentice at least the minimum wage.
- PPE and basic tools are the responsibility of the Employer
- Grants and funding may be available speak to our advisors who will be happy to offer advice and guidance
Funding Support Package
