The UK Government has announced a new package of measures to support employers in England to create job and apprenticeship opportunities.
New measures include:
- Youth Jobs Grant: £3,000 for employers hiring 18-24-year-olds on Universal Credit for six months+
- Expanded Jobs Guarantee: From autumn 2026, all eligible 18-24-year-olds can access the scheme, with those unemployed for 18 months offered six months of subsidised work and training, creating 35,000 roles
- SME Apprenticeship Incentive: £2,000 per apprentice (16-24) for small businesses, targeting 50,000 new starts.
The £2,000 and £3,000 incentives can be combined for those eligible; a small business taking on an apprentice aged 18-24 who has been unemployed and on Universal Credit for six plus months.
Those new incentives, coming into effect in the Autumn, sit alongside existing measures:
- Full Funding for Young Apprentices (August 2026): For non-levy-paying employers, training and assessment for apprentices aged 16 to 24 will be fully funded starting from 1 August 2026
- Employers do not pay National Insurance Contributions (NICs) on employees aged under 21 or apprentices aged under 25.
We have been calling for stronger, practical incentives to help employers invest in apprenticeships and skills, and continue to make the case for further incentives for longer duration apprenticeships.
JTL can help you navigate these important updates and take on an apprentice with high quality training.
With 16 dedicated training centres across England and Wales, JTL can help future-proof your business with skilled, qualified workers through effective training.
Speak to our specialist team today to discuss how these changes affect you, and how to start your next apprentice with confidence.