Apprenticeship Grants for Employers of apprentices aged 16 to 24
The European Social Fund will provide up to 1,025 Apprenticeship Grants to employers in the South East to employ apprentices aged 16 – 24 years. The value of the Grant will be £1,500 and is to encourage employers to take on unemployed 16 – 24 year olds as apprentices.
Which employers can benefit from the AGE 16 – 24 Grant?
The grant is particularly to support small and medium sized employers in the private and third sectors employing no more than 250 full time equivalent staff, who are either:
• Interested in employing an apprentice for the first time; or
• Returning to recruiting an apprentice after a lapse of twelve months or more; or
• Already employing apprentices but will commit to employing more 16-24 year olds than they otherwise would.
When will the AGE 16 – 24 Grant be available?
The grant will be available from April 2010 until October 2010. It is recognised that particular issues are faced by young people in the current economic climate and this grant is a way of supporting them and ensuring that we are training a new generation for economic recovery.
How will employers receive the grant?
Aspire Learning and Development Limited (Aspire) will administer this grant in the South East in collaboration with the learning providers in the region to support employers to be able to claim this grant. Employers will receive the grant in two payments - £1,000 when the young person starts their Apprenticeship and a further £500 after 12 weeks.
Employers will be asked to sign an agreement which commits them to employing a new or additional apprentice in paid employment for the duration of the Apprenticeship training programme. Employers will pay the apprentice at least the minimum Apprenticeship wage. If the apprentice leaves early, the employer will be asked to repay a proportion of the grant.
Who is eligible?
Young people and adults aged 16-24 years old. 16 – 18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training and are seeking an Apprenticeship with an employer are eligible.
Those aged 19-24 are eligible if they are enrolling on an Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3) opportunity and :
• they are unemployed and have been claiming Job Seekers Allowance for six months or more, or
• they have completed a Pre-Employment Training Programme.
The candidates will need to have been recruited and in work before the end of October 2010.
Applying for the AGE 16 – 24 Grant is simple and straightforward.
Email: info@aspirelearning.co.uk
Download an information sheet here
