Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships
Why employ an apprentice?
Employing an apprentice can be a great addition to your business. It gives you the opportunity to benefit from a supported programme that invests in training employees with the skills set and workplace behaviour right for you!
Companies who have been employing apprenticeships for many years believe that investing in apprenticeship recruitment contributes to the continued success of their business reporting improved staff retention, motivated employees and talent that has grown with the business, talent which goes on to drive the business forward! If your business is part of a sector suffering from shortage skills an apprenticeship can help bridge the gap and boost productivity.
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships provide an opportunity to combine a paid job in a business with studying, to gain job specific skills and nationally recognised qualifications.
Apprenticeship training courses are advised by employers and can be tailored to meet the needs of your business. They are available for young people over 16 and adults. Government funding is available to cover the cost of training and for SME employers looking to employ a new apprentice there is a grant available to cover the cost of the off the job training.
In Bolton around 3000 young people and adults benefit from being employed as an apprentice each year. This is the third highest level of apprenticeship recruitment in Greater Manchester.
There are a wide range of local training providers offering fantastic training courses which have been advised by employers.
Business Bolton can help you to find the right person and training provider through our recruitment support with links to local skills advice or the Team Bolton Partnership. Contact us on 01204 336222.
Incentive payments for hiring a new apprentice
As England adjusts to the new normal the government has introduced financial support to help employers hire new apprentices. Through apprenticeships, you can build competitive skills to encourage growth in your organisation.
Employers can apply for a payment of £3,000 for new apprentices with an employment start date from 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022.
They will also need to have an apprenticeship start date from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
Applications close on 15 May 2022.
The payment is in addition to the existing £1,000 you’ll already get for taking on an apprentice who is:
- aged 16 to 18 years old
- under 25 and has an education, health and care plan or has been in the care of their local authority
This £1000 payment will be paid to your training provider and you will receive it from them.
Find out more at www.gov.uk
You could get the incentive payment when you hire an apprentice who’s been made redundant as long as they’re new to your organisation.
Hire an apprentice who has been made redundant
You can also use a new government service to help you hire apprentices who have been made redundant.
Many of these apprentices may already have the skills and knowledge you need. Hiring a new apprentice in this way could mean you have a work-ready apprentice who can quickly add value to your business, shortening the time you’ll see a return on your investment.
It also means you are supporting an apprentice to complete their training and achieve their apprenticeship.
If you hire an apprentice that has been made redundant, you can apply for incentive payments for hiring a new apprentice.
GM Levy Matchmaking Service
Bolton Council support the Greater Manchester Levy Matchmaking Service. SME organisations who wish to recruit apprentices or upskill existing members of staff can use the service to find levy paying employers who are willing to transfer funding to pay the full cost of Apprenticeship standards on behalf of other Employers.
Bolton Council use the following criteria when deciding which organisations may receive a transfer of funds using the GM Levy Matchmaking Service:
- Any funded apprentice must be working within Bolton.
- Apprentices must be in a position where they are paid at least the National Minimum Wage (for age) and there should be a progression plan for them once the apprenticeship is complete.
- The receiving employers should be able to evidence Social Value.
More information on the GM levy match finder service can be found on their website: www.levymatchfinder.co.uk
Apprenticeship links