Employers of all sizes are being invited to apply for
generous cash incentives to help them take on new apprentices
and get more people into work, Apprenticeships and Skills
Minister, has announced today.
Apprenticeships are a great way to get ahead in a wide
range of exciting industries, and they will also play a vital
role in delivering the skills employers and the economy need to
recover after the coronavirus outbreak.
As part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs,
employers are being offered £2,000 for each new apprentice they
hire aged under 25, and £1,500 for each newly recruited
apprentice aged 25 and over. This includes taking on an
apprentice who has been made redundant.
The cash boost is designed to support employers to cover
the cost of recruiting an apprentice such as providing
facilities, uniforms, helping with travel costs or to help pay
their salary.
Employers who want to take advantage of the offer can apply
through the government’s award-winning digital
apprenticeship service.
, Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills
said:
“We recognise the huge impact coronavirus has had on
individuals and businesses up and down the country.
“Through our Plan for Jobs we have taken unprecedented
steps to protect, support and create jobs, including
driving more high quality apprenticeship opportunities to help
get our economy moving.
“To support this, from today, employers can sign up to
receive £2,000 for each new apprentice they take on
aged under 25 and £1,500 for those aged 25 and over. This offer
will help more employers large and small to invest in the skilled
workforce they need to help them recover and grow.
“I strongly encourage as many employers as possible to
apply now, and take advantage of this generous offer
whether it is used to recruit apprentices for the first
time or expand their current apprenticeship offer.”
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said:
“Apprenticeships play a crucial role in developing the
skills people need, particularly young people, as they seek work
in these challenging times.
I urge every employer, big or small, national or local, to
sign up to our offer and support apprentices as we continue our
economic recovery. Our Plan for Jobs will create, support and
protect jobs across all regions of the UK, and ensure our economy
is fit for the future.”
This new cash
incentive for employers is on top of the existing £1,000
payment for new 16-18 year-old apprentices, and those aged under
25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan.
To support people, particularly young people, affected by
Covid-19 the Government has also announced a range of support
including:
· £111 million boost to triple the
number of traineeships available across England – the
largest-ever expansion of traineeships – to help make sure more
16-24 year olds have the skills, experience and confidence they
need to enter the world of work.
· A new £2 billion Kick-start Scheme to
create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for
young people across the country.
· £17million is being invested to
increase participation in our sector-based work academies, to
upskilling job seekers to fill locally identified vacancies.
- A Job
Retention Bonus – a one-off payment of £1,000 to UK employers for
every furloughed employee who remains continuously employed
through to the end of January 2021.
· £111 million to support school and
college leavers at risk of becoming unemployed to do a fully
funded optional extra year of study.
The Government is also providing a new online
and telephone support service for apprentices who have lost
their jobs during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices (ReSSA)
ensures apprentices can access services that can provide
financial, legal, health and wellbeing support, and help them get
back on track and on the path to a new career.
