Explore funding options

Hiring an apprentice is a great way to bring in fresh talent and enhance skills within your team. Whether you are a large organisation or a small business, government funding is available for apprenticeships.

The amount you get depends on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy or not, learn more on funding an apprenticeship.

In addition to covering the apprenticeship training costs, you might also have access to additional support, including:

Government support:

• £1,000 incentive funding for businesses with apprentices aged under 19, or aged between 19 and 24 for care leavers or those with an education, health and care (EHC) plan. Training providers also get this funding
• £2,000 incentive payment for employers who have an apprentice doing a foundation apprenticeship 
• Additional grants and support for travel and accommodation available for CITB registered employers and their apprentices

Bursaries and assistance

• Apprentices who are young people in care or care leavers may need extra support. They might be eligible for the apprenticeships care leavers' bursary. Find out more.
• Employer resources: to support care leavers in apprenticeships
• Inclusive employer toolkit: access resources to support care leavers in apprenticeships
• Support centre: direct your apprentice to our support centre for more information on support available for young people in care or care leavers
• Training providers: receive monthly payments to support apprentices with learning difficulties or disabilities
• Access to work support: for employees with a disability or health conditions, including communication support at interviews and grants for practical workplace assistance

Upskilling and Exemptions

• Government funding is available for upskilling if your apprentice needs to meet the minimum Level 2 requirements in English and maths
• Employers are exempt from paying National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25 earning under £50,270 annually

Levy transfers and full funding

Businesses that do not pay the apprenticeship levy contribute 5% of training costs. However, there are exceptions to this rule:

They do not have to contribute to training costs (up to the funding band maximum) if they do not pay the apprenticeship levy and they:

• receive a levy transfer from another employer
• have an apprentice aged under 22 (for new apprenticeship training starts from 1 April 2024)
• have an apprentice aged between 22 and 24 with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan provided by their local authority and/or has been in care (for new apprenticeship training starts from 1 April 2024)

Local government funding:

Potential eligibility for additional funding support from local government sources. Check with your local authority to see what is available in your area.