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The Apprenticeship Grant Scheme for Employers

What is the Apprenticeship Grant Scheme?
This scheme is intended to offset some of the costs to businesses involved in employing an apprentice.

What will the scheme fund?
The scheme will fund a wide variety of costs associated with employing an apprentice including:

• The cost of equipment for the apprentice
• The cost of adjustments for the apprentice (e.g. for a disabled apprentice)
• The cost of back-filling for an apprentice mentor
• The cost of equipment for the company to enable the employment of an apprentice
• The training costs for an apprentice (where these are not met by Central Government)

How much money is available?
Grants of up to a maximum of £4,000 are available. This will consist of a basic grant of up to £2,000 and a potential further £2,000 for the training costs of the apprentice.

The training element of an apprenticeship for people up to the age of 19 will be paid for by central Government through the Learning and Skills Council. If your apprentice does not qualify for training funding, you may apply for the further £2,000.

Who can apply?
Businesses fulfilling the following criteria can apply:

• You employ up to 250 people across the whole business
• Your apprentice will be employed at a location inside the Hampshire County Council area. Locations in Portsmouth and Southampton are not eligible
• You have discussed your needs with the National Apprenticeship Service

What supporting evidence do you need to supply?
• You will need to provide evidence that you have contacted a representative of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). NAS will help you to decide if employing an apprentice is the most appropriate way to fulfill your recruitment needs
• If you apply for the £2,000 training element, you will need to supply evidence that there is no funding available from Central Government

Who decides if your application is successful?
NAS will be able to supply you with a letter of confirmation. A panel led by the Head of Economic Development will assess all applications. If you are successful, you will be advised within two weeks of the decision and payment will follow within a week thereafter. You will receive half of the allocation at this stage and the remainder after 12 months on production of supporting invoices. If the apprentice leaves within 12 months, the second payment will not be made. If your grant application is unsuccessful, you will be given the reasons for the decision.

What is not eligible for a grant?
You may not use the grant as a wage subsidy

What other support is available?
NAS will help you to decide if an Apprenticeship is right for your business
Please contact a member of ECTA for further details on 023 8091 1226

Release date 29/10/2009