New incentives to recruit apprentices

On Wednesday 8th July, the government announced its Plan for Jobs. It’s a clear statement of intent that skills, apprenticeships and work based learning are at the centre of policy decisions to rebuild the economy. Now is the time to recruit, invest in young talent and future proof businesses.

The focus is on enabling young people to experience work and develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours for them to gain employment and progress into sustainable jobs.

The new incentive payments for employers who hire new apprentices are:

• A NEW payment of £2,000 to employers for each new apprentice they hire aged under 25.
  
  
• A NEW payment of £2,000 for employers for each new apprentices they hire aged 19-24.
  
• A NEW payment of £1,500 payment for each new apprentice they hire aged 25 and over.
  
  
• This will run from 1st August 2020 to 31st January 2021.
  
  
• These payments will be in addition to the existing £1,000 payment the government already provides for new 16-18 year-old apprentices, and those aged under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Therefore you get the following incentive payments if you recruit a new apprentice, regardless of the size of your business:

• 16-18 year olds                 £3000 (existing £1,000 + NEW £2,000)
• 19-24 year olds                 £2000 NEW
• 25+                                      £1500 NEW

Apprenticeship training and apprenticeship standard qualifications also continue to be fully funded for those aged 16-18 for those employed by companies with less than 50 staff. For those with over 50 staff and recruiting apprentices aged 19+ then a co-investment payment or levy payment remains to the case.

PM Training can support your business with the following apprenticeship standards;

Construction 

Level 2 Site Carpenter

Engineering

Level 3 Gas Engineering Operative

Manufacturing

Level 2 Lean Manufacturing Operative

Level 2 Trade Supplier

Business, Customer Service and Accountancy

Level 2 Account Finance Assistant

Level 3 Assistant Accountant

Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner

Level 3 Business Administrator

Level 3 Customer Service Specialist

Level 3 Team Leader Supervisor

Housing Management

Level 2 Housing Property Management Assistant

Level 3 Housing Property Management

Level 4 Senior Housing Property Management

Investment in Traineeships

The government have also announced additional investment in traineeships (£1,000 support payment to employers for giving a young person the opportunity to experience the world of work), careers education and new Level 2 and 3 courses for 18 & 19 year olds.

A new £2 billion KickStart Scheme will also be launched to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country. Those aged 16-24, claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment, will be eligible. The funding available for each six-month job placement will cover 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week – and employers will be able to top this wage up.

Confidence in apprenticeships

It reflects a confidence in an apprenticeship system that has undergone a revolution in the last three years, in terms of content, delivery and vision.

If it’s a while since you looked at apprenticeships, or indeed have never really considered them, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Book a meeting today to speak to a member of our Partnerships team. Our team have an excellent track record in recruitment and business support.