Explore funding options

How much financial support can you get?

The financial support available depends on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy. Employers only pay the levy if their annual pay bill is over £3 million.

• If you don’t pay the apprenticeship levy: you can receive up to £8,000 in payments
• If you pay the apprenticeship levy: you can receive up to £6,000 in payments

These payments are made up of the support available below and, where eligible, can be combined for the same apprentice.

Payments to support employers

These are the types of support available from the government:

• £1,000 additional payment - for employers when apprentices start aged 16 to 18, or under 25 if they are in care or have been in care, or have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
• £2,000 hiring payment - for non-levy paying employers recruiting new apprentices aged 16 to 24. Find out more about the hiring payment.
• £2,000 foundation apprenticeship incentive - for employers recruiting foundation apprentices aged 16 to 21, or under 25 if they have an EHC plan, have been in care or are in care, or are in prison or leaving prison.
• £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant - for employers who hire an apprentice aged 18 to 24 who has been out of work and claiming Universal Credit for six months or more, to a job registered with the scheme.

Funding for apprenticeship training costs

The government can pay 100% of apprenticeship training and assessment costs, up to the funding band maximum, for apprentices aged 16 to 24. This applies whether or not you pay the apprenticeship levy, subject to the funding rules.

For apprentices aged 25 and over:

• If you don't pay the apprenticeship levy, you pay 5% of the training and assessment costs. The government pays the remaining 95%.
• If you pay the apprenticeship levy and have used all your funds, you pay 25% of the training and assessment costs. The government pays the remaining 75%.

If the cost of training and assessment is higher than the funding band maximum, you must pay the difference.

Funding for apprentices

Care leavers' bursary

Apprentices who are currently in care or leaving care may be eligible for the care leaver's bursary.

The Care Leaver Covenant’s inclusive employer toolkit can help you provide the right support for care leavers in apprenticeships. 

Support for disabled apprentices and apprentices with a learning difficulty

Training providers receive monthly payments to help disabled apprentices or apprentices with a learning difficulty. Employees can also receive Access to Work grants, which provide practical workplace adjustments and support for staff with disabilities or health conditions.