Employers who hire a new apprentice between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021 will receive £3,000 per new hire, compared with £1,500 per new apprentice hire (or £2,000 for those aged 24 and under) under the previous scheme.
This is on top of the existing £1,000 payment the government provides for all new 16-18 year-old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan, where that applies.
In addition to this, an additional £126 million is being provided, for high quality work placements and training for 16-24 year olds in the 2021/22 academic year.
Employers who provide trainees with work experience will continue to be funded at a rate of £1,000 per trainee.
The government will also introduce a £7 million fund from July 2021 to help employers in England set up and expand portable apprenticeships.
These will allow employers to effectively share apprentices, providing a comprehensive learning and work experience, that will enable people who need to work across multiple projects with different employers to benefit from the high quality long-term training that an apprenticeship provides.
Employers themselves will also benefit from access to a diverse apprenticeship talent pipeline.
Employers will be invited to bring forward proposals here, and in particular the Creative Industries Council will be asked to do so in recognition of the potential benefits of this new approach for the creative sector.
Al Kingsley – CEO, NetSupport Limited and Apprenticeship Ambassador for the East of England said: “The additional support being proposed by the Government is hugely timely and very welcome by employers.
“Covid has created a seismic shift in the workplace and left many hugely capable employees, out of work and needing the opportunity to retrain and access fresh opportunities with new employers.
“Apprenticeships carry no age limits, perhaps contrary to some perceptions, and now more than ever we want experienced workers given the opportunity to retrain and help us all build back better.
“The Business Board are committed to helping employers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to create new apprenticeships, we are investing in heavily in our new Business Growth Service, known as Growth Works, which will deliver 1,400 new apprenticeships over the next three years.
“I am confident local employers will take full advantage of the additional financial support to create exciting new apprenticeships for young people across our region.”
Gareth Preece – Director of Growth Works with Skills said: “Accessing the skills that business needs is a critical factor in enabling growth and driving the economic recovery.
“The additional financial incentives and increased flexibility for work experience and apprenticeships announced today will further remove barriers for employers that are keen to access the skills they need.
“Growth Works with Skills will be supporting employers and learners to access opportunities that enable growth, and reminding employers that apprenticeships are for all ages, for new staff, up skilling and re-skilling and a fantastic way to growth high quality effective teams. Today’s announcements will further support the people and businesses of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”